Paul Scope sees no reason for Bermuda Hogges’ relationship with English non-league side Ilkeston FC to discontinue with two club officials set to visit the Island this summer.Hogges owner Scope withdrew his team from this season’s Premier Development League due to lack of sponsorship but believes the franchise still has a future and could return in 12 months’ time.Last month Hogges announced an official partnership with Ilkeston who recently signed Bermuda striker Antwan Russell after a successful stint at the ambitious Evo-Stik League Northern Premier outfit. Devonshire Cougars’ winger Lejuan Simmons played several games for Ilkeston’s reserves last term while Dandy Town target man Dante Leverock will join the club next season.And despite Hogges being shelved for this summer at least, Scope is adamant Ilkeston can continue to provide an avenue into UK football for the Island’s top youngsters.“There’s no reason for (the relationship) to discontinue at the moment,” said Scope, who formed Hogges in 2006 with the help of Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne.“Hogges are not going to be on the field this year but through the Bermuda Hogges overseas network we can continue to place players overseas.”Scope said Ilkeston’s chairman Dave Mantle and commercial director Nigel Harrop, a former Bermuda resident, planned to visit the Island soon to speak to the parents of prospective players for the club’s Academy.As part of the their partnership with Hogges, Ilkeston are keen to take as many as five Bermudians to join their fully-fledged Academy each season.“I’m certainly going to be talking to some of our loyal sponsors about diverting funds that would have otherwise been allocated to the expense of running the team to scholarships or academic funding,” added Scope.“I’m going to continue that work for sure and there’s still plans for the Ilkeston owner and commercial director to come over in the next couple of months to explain more about the opportunities for prospective players and meet with their parents.”Scope believes Ilkeston, who play three tiers below the English football, are a good fit for promising young Bermuda players keen to follow in the footsteps of Nahki Wells, who has become a rising star at Bradford City.Wells, an ex-Hogges player, met with Scope after Bradford’s League Two play-off final victory over Northampton Town when the pair discussed the benefits of Hogges’ link-up with Ilkeston.“Interestingly enough, I was discussing Ilkeston with Nahki Wells after the play-off final and he thinks it’s a great level for Bermudians to start,” said Scope.“He said people don’t realise how tough it is to get established in British football. He has several friends both at Bradford and Carlisle who got spotted by scouts playing at that level.”In recent years Hogges have established links at UK clubs Barnet and Walsall as well as Orlando City in the United Soccer Leagues’ Pro Division.Scope said he would be working with Boston-based ex-MLS winger Khano Smith and former national team coach Devarr Boyles in placing players at clubs both sides of the Atlantic.“We definitely want to continue (the Ilkeston link) but we also have a Barnet connection and I will be spending a fair amount of time with (Barnet director of football) Paul Fairclough while his England C team are in Bermuda,” said Scope.“Ilkeston are not the only club we’re concentrating on but obviously we’ve hit a rich vein of connection there and it’s certainly a good level for Bermudian players to start at.“Khano Smith and Devarr Boyles want to work with me in placing players overseas. Khano has a lot of connections in the US and he’s certainly willing to help in that regard.”Ilkeston, who are coached by Kevin Wilson, a former Walsall team-mate of Lightbourne, play Premier League giants Chelsea in a pre-season friendly at the New Manor Ground on July 30.Bermuda national team face England C at the National Sports Centre at 7.30pm tomorrow night.