Bermuda Hogges have committed themselves to playing in next season’s United Soccer League’s Premier Development League.With the help of Bermuda Football Association, Hogges owner Paul Scope is confident of drumming up the necessary support to cover the costs of this summer’s campaign.Having reached his financial breaking point after ploughing more than $500,000 of his own cash into the franchise, Scope admitted in a recent Royal Gazette interview that skipping next season was a worst-case scenario.However, following positive talks with the BFA, Scope said he felt confident that with their collaboration he wouldn’t be left picking up the entire tab this time around.“I’m delighted and encouraged by the support I’ve received from the BFA and by what Devarr (Boyles) and Mark (Wade) have said. We’ve established a very collaborative effort in operating the team and hopefully we will be able to work even closer together in raising the necessary finances,” said Scope, who has received financial pledges from the Aspen, XL and ACE.“It’s fair to say that in the past I’ve had to do the lion’s share of the fundraising in the past but we now have an understanding that we will raise funds together.”Scope’s long held assertion that Hogges are integral to the development of the national team has arguably never carried more weight on the back of Bermuda’s recent impressive World Cup qualifying campaign.The Bermuda side that beat Trinidad and drew with Guyana at home last month was heavily Hogges flavoured, underscoring the franchise’s growing importance in preparing players for the international arena.But, although the BFA have had full control over team affairs for the past two seasons, their level of financial support has significantly reduced since their annual grant was slashed by Government in the last Budget by $250,000.While the BFA’s funding commitment is likely to remain limited, both Wade, the BFA player development committee, and Boyles, the director of football, consider Hogges an integral part of the national programme.Boyles said: “What I’m saying to the sponsors and the owners of Hogges is that it’s critical for their continued support well, even greater support, because without Hogges the senior team becomes hard to operate. We’re looking to become beyond competitive and Hogges will help us do that.”Although there will be an overlap with Hogges’ season and this summer’s Digicel Caribbean Cup, Boyles insisted there would be no direct conflict as the national team’s player pool was deep enough to accommodate both competitions.“We know we have enough players to run two senior teams,” he said. “There were a raft of players unavailable for the World Cup qualifiers due to studies for school but they will be this summer.”Last season saw Hogges achieve their highest place finish in the USL, finishing sixth in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.