A collaborative effort between the Bermuda Football Association and the domestic clubs is key to creating a fertile environment for the growth of the game.

That is the view of Maurice Lowe, the BFA technical development director, who insists no one man can be the “saviour of Bermudian football” and warns against short-term solutions for developing players.

It has been more than six months since Lowe was appointed to a newly created position as part of the BFA’s restructuring after Richard Todd’s decision to step down as the National Academy director.

Along with overseeing the National Academy at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence, the BFA’s new headquarters, Lowe has been busy improving the lines of communication with the clubs, meeting regularly with their technical staff.

He admits the club “tribalism” which his predecessors often claimed hindered the development of the national programme still exists, although he maintains that, for the most part, the Island’s football fraternity has been helpful and supportive.

“I have good relationships with all of the clubs, some closer than others, but good relations just the same,” said Lowe, a former Bermuda captain.

“I like to think of myself as approachable and I’ve had lots of conversations with stakeholders, old and new, to get a wide range of perspectives.

“While the tribalism seems like it’s club versus club or club versus country, in reality we’re all working towards the same goal.

“I haven’t had any negative experiences from the clubs as of yet. I’m very open to collaboration and keen to listen to what people have to say.”

Still only 38, Lowe — the second Bermudian to earn a Uefa A Licence coaching certificate behind Shaun Goater — has already accumulated a wealth of coaching experience.

He was technical director of top-flight Southampton Rangers for two seasons, having previously worked under Kenny Thompson at First Division sides BAA Wanderers and Somerset Eagles, as well as spending back-to-back summers in charge of the Bermuda Hogges.

Lowe, the nephew of Bermuda football icon Earl “Townsey” Russell, has also previously worked as an Academy coach and admits he felt his coaching journey had come full circle when he took up his far-reaching post last July.

“I never saw myself in this position,” said Lowe, “It wasn’t a goal or ambition I had for myself.

“I was playing for Dandy Town when they started a programme that assigned senior players to the junior teams and I liked it.

“I was later involved in the first iteration of the National Academy under the leadership of Derek Broadley [the former BFA technical director] and also worked under Devarr Boyles and then Richard Todd. I’m now trying to build on the good work of all those people.

“The scope of this role enables me to attempt to improve Bermudian football on a whole different level. My reach is a lot longer now than it was when I was a club coach.”

Juggling his new position with a full-time job as an IT network manager at Warwick Academy has not been without its challenges for Lowe, who admits his role would be impossible without his team of part-time Academy coaches, including Andrew Bascome, Kyle Lightbourne, Dennis Brown, Ray Jones and Naquita Robinson.

“I’m trying to collaborate with others who are positive about improving Bermudian football and working with them to maximise our potential,” said Lowe, who revealed that the BFA was looking to hire an assistant technical development director to share his workload.

“There are no short-term fixes and solutions. It’s going to come from consistent effort and only then will we see some improvement. A lot of the problems we have didn’t happen overnight and neither will the solutions.”

With so many young Bermudian players overseas, whether through college scholarships or academy programmes, Lowe believes the National Academy has a crucial role ensuring the Island-based players do not fall too far behind in terms of their development.

“In the current landscape of Bermuda football, the National Academy definitely adds value and has an important place, particularly as in all of the age groups there are players at overseas prep schools, colleges or club academies,” Lowe said.

“It’s very important the local-based players have an opportunity to receive a high level of coaching as well, so they can be on a par with many of those overseas players.

“In some cases it may actually be more advantageous to be in Bermuda. Just because a player is based overseas doesn’t necessarily mean they’re operating at a higher level.”

As part of the BFA restructuring, the Academy has raised the age of its intake of players from 10 to 13. There are now two teams, boys and girls, at the under-15 and under-17 age groups, as well as the men’s and women’s under-20 and senior national teams. Lowe said he had worked closely with the domestic clubs to ensure they was no conflict when it came to scheduling the Academy’s twice-weekly training sessions.

“We look to bring in players from the ages of 13 to 15 to begin to get them prepared for international football, which starts at the under-15 level,” he said.

“If we see a player with potential we will have conversations with their club coaches about that player joining the Academy,” Lowe said. “That way it’s more of a collaborative environment between the Academy and the clubs.

“Maybe we can accelerate that player’s development by having him train with players who are further developed at any given age group.”

Lowe has an extension option in his contract and he is keen to carry on in his role. Should that be the case, he hopes the relationship between the national programme and clubs will continue to grow from strength to strength.