The same clubs that the players' transfer fee was designed to protect when it was introduced 11 years ago are becoming victims of a system that many, including BFA administrator David Sabir, believe is in desperate need of an overhaul.

That became apparent this week when it was confirmed that Somerset Bridge must fork out $2,500 each for five Somerset Trojans players who want to join their ranks this season.

It's ironic that the two West End clubs are involved in the latest controversy surrounding the transfer fee, for they were also the two parties at the centre of the first transfer fee in 1985.

That year Eagles had to pay $2,500 to land defender Lance Brown from their neighbours.

Now if Eagles, under new coach Kenny Thompson, are to sign up Lamual Crofton, Marco Butterfield, Akil Lambert, Jerome Codrington and Arthur Tucker they will have to pay out a total of $12,500 to get them.

Two other Trojans players, who Bermuda Football Association decided would also command a fee -- Sean Simmons and Shannon Morrissey -- have now been cleared to move to Eagles without payment.

"The constitution calls for an unbroken tenure, but Sean Simmons actually played for Dandy Town while with the other player (Morrissey) there was a lack of involvement with Somerset since 1993,'' said BFA general secretary Sabir.

"The club indicated they do not wish to object to their release.'' Back in 1985 the affiliates adopted a policy that would require players who came up through a club's youth programme to command a transfer fee of $2,500 if he moved to another club. It was designed to block clubs without their own youth programmes from enticing players from other teams with monetary offers.

Eagles were forced to pay the fee to make Brown the country's first paid transfer player.

Last month Donna Smith, secretary of Somerset Bridge, admitted the club could not afford to pay the transfer fees for the players they now wanted. Their position is not likely to have changed, even though they were successful in their appeal against Simmons and Morrissey.

Now, unless the clubs that any of the players are trying to leave relent and allow them to go without a fee -- or the players decide to stay -- then those same players could find themselves without a team this season.

"What it means is that the players who wish to leave their clubs and participate with a new club have to have those clubs support the fee as it is laid down in the constitution or make a decision whether they want to return to their respective clubs,'' Sabir explained.

"I'm sure the structure that the affiliates agreed to implement causes a bit of hardship financially for all clubs.'' Both Sabir and Colin Smith, chairman of soccer at Somerset and also a former BFA director, agreed the transfer policy needed to be reviewed.

"It needs immediate attention, this provision in the constitution,'' Sabir accepted. "I think it has outlived its time.

"It was aimed at clubs without youth programmes taking advantage of those clubs with very strong programmes.

"Now it's a situation where those players who have benefited from various programmes are becoming victims of a rule that cannot possibly be supported.'' Sabir added that "no provision in the constitution'' allowed for the players to sit out a year and then be free to move on a free transfer.

"Constitutionally, the regulation is not broad enough to answer that question,'' Sabir said.

"It would need a mutual agreement between club and player and that's why the regulation needs our immediate attention.'' Smith accused the BFA of going against its own constitution after other players whose transfer the club objected to -- Rodney Bascome, Reggie Tucker, Trevor Dickinson and Jerry Webb -- were allowed to join new clubs. They apparently satisfied the requirement of having given the club sufficient service.

"There is nothing in the constitution or by-laws that states that depending on how many years' service that a player gives a club that he can go free of charge,'' said Smith.

The clause under the Release of Player, section 8, item C in the by-laws states: "In the case where a player who has graduated as a result of an unbroken tenure through a club's youth programme to become a registered senior player with that club wishes to be released, the release fee shall be $2,500 of which 10 percent shall be retained by the association and the remainder forwarded to the player's former club upon completion of the release form.'' Added Smith: "When we had the meeting (with the BFA) they asked me what guys were we really considering for the fee and I told them three -- Akil Lambert, Shannon Morrissey and Jerome Codrington -- can be released.'' Smith stated that most of the objections for the young players involved those who the club had invested in by taking to the Minnesota Cup, besides Morrissey, Lambert and Codrington.

"They (BFA) are trying to enforce their own ideas and policies without consulting the clubs and straightening it out in the constitution,'' Smith accused.