Mark Mello, president of the Bermuda Hockey Federation, is facing a call to resign following his scathing attack on Bermuda women's national team coaches Gareth Tavares and Andrew Travis.

An e-mailed letter, sent by BHF member Laura West-Burt to fellow members, the coaches, Mello himself and players who represented the Island in the recent Pan Am tournament, called for the president to stand down and suggested that personal grudges and not hockey were behind his remarks published in yesterday's Royal Gazette.

West-Burt also condemned Mello for attempting to turn friends against each other in a power struggle that was against the interests of the sport on the Island.

The Gazette received a copy of the letter, which read as follows:

"What a sad, sad day it is for hockey in Bermuda, when the President of the Bermuda Hockey Federation chooses to debate internal matters and 'verbally' attack members of the BHF in such a public forum.

"What were you thinking? In whose best interests are you working? It is painfully obvious to me and others within the BHF that you harbour personal dislikes against certain individuals and see fit to abuse your position as President of this Federation as a platform to demean and devalue their contributions to the BHF.

"In addition, you seek to further damage the BHF by pulling the old "Bermudian versus non-Bermudian" ploy in an attempt to pitch friends and members alike against each other. I have high hopes that the majority of the BHF would not be drawn into your battle – I look at my fellow members as simply members and don't differentiate their status and judge them based on where they come from as you so obviously do.

"My understanding, as President and an Officer of the BHF, is that you were 'elected' to serve the best interests of the Federation and I further quote the BHF Mission Statement – to ensure that local hockey, driven by a dynamic federation, is both a credit to Bermuda and a positive influence throughout the community.

"In this regard, you have done neither. As a member of the BHF who is disgusted with your public manner of dealing with internal BHF matters and for your personal, unfounded verbal attacks on various members of the BHF, I call for your immediate resignation as President and Officer of the Bermuda Hockey Federation and in this regard, I further call on any member of the BHF who is willing to put themselves forward as a candidate for President and/or the Executive to make themselves known.

"I am totally embarrassed to be associated with the BHF with you at the 'helm' . . . well done Mark . . . you have officially dumped the BHF into the proverbial toilet with your actions."

Ms West-Burt couldn't be reached for further comment.