An alarming majority of local football clubs are falling short in terms of leadership, finances and an understanding of their roles, a detailed Bermuda Football Association (BFA) study has revealed.

In an exclusive earlier this week, The Royal Gazette revealed some of the key components of the BFA's revised Strategic Plan to "reverse the decline" in the local game.

And listed among the primary concerns outlined in the association's manifesto that has been widely accepted in local football circles are some of the major pitfalls at club level which have led to the stagnation of Bermuda football.

"There is a generally accepted belief that clubs are in serious difficulty with regards to leadership, membership, finances and the understanding of their roles in an ever-changing Bermuda sports community/environment," read a draft of the BFA's revised strategic plan.

"Understandably, although clubs have largely survived on the efforts of volunteers, the majority of clubs lack the requisite skills to manage their organisations."

According to a BFA study:

n Only about half the clubs have adequate, complete and up-to-date procedures for recording minutes of executive and sub-committee meetings.

n Approximately three quarters of the full-member clubs have the requisite legal structure for their organisation.

n About three quarters of the clubs conduct an annual meeting for their membership to outline goals and objectives.

n Many clubs do not conduct annual financial audits and do not produce regular financial reports.

n A number of clubs do not have a business plan by which they formulate their short and long term goals and objectives, and they have no specific strategies to support the achievement of any goals.

n Club officials lack clear direction from the BFA about acceptable fiduciary standards and procedures. In the absence of clear BFA direction, most clubs have demonstrated an inability to develop and consistently implement reasonable standards and procedures of their own.

n Not only do clubs lack the necessary resources to upgrade their facilities, they lack the managerial and manpower resources to do so in a cost effective manner.

n Clubs without premises are heavily reliant on the use of their facilities such as their homes, jobs or public locations to conduct the business of football, leading to a higher than normal level of frustration and inefficiency.

n There are not deliberate attempts among clubs to pool their resources, both financially and otherwise, to increase the benefits between themselves and by extension football generally. Clubs purchase uniforms and equipment separately rather than collectively to gain an economic advantage. Similarly, clubs do not purchase building materials or other items for upgrading their clubs as a group thereby eliminating any volume purchase discounts, etc.

n There is a noticeable lack of solidarity whereby "big" clubs partner with the smaller clubs to work together in the best interest of the sport of football.

Having identified some of the ills plaguing local clubs, the BFA are now determined to tackle these issues head on with the ultimate objective being to see that its member clubs are run in a more efficient manner moving forward. Local football's governing body plan to mobilise its resources to form a strategy to best assist clubs with implementing proper administrative and management policies.

They also aim to create a fully or partially funded programme to establish proper accounting systems and the delivery of monthly and year-end reports as well as assist clubs to establish potentially lucrative relationships with corporate Bermuda.

The association have already scheduled monthly meetings with clubs who will now be required to provide financial statements, report progress against strategic plan milestones, and provide a forum for regular two-way dialogue on any relevant issues.

As part of its remit to return Bermuda football to its former prestige, the BFA have set themselves both short and long-term goals they hope to achieve moving forward.