Larry Mussenden?s reign as president of the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) could be in jeopardy as a rebel group of former top administrators have mounted a serious campaign to oust him.

With local football still in decline after a decade of mediocrity, The Royal Gazette has learned the group, comprised of former BFA executives and coaches, have had enough of the current administration who they claim have done little to resurrect the national sport in the past three years.

It is understood the rebel group, who previously supported Mussenden, held a special meeting at Devonshire Recreation Club last night to nominate a candidate to oppose the embattled president during the Annual General Meeting on September 16 ? an event being held two months later than the constitution permits.

The rebels are upset over the manner in which the current administration have conducted business, particularly over the last 12 months which have reeked of controversy stemming from Bermuda?s inadequate preparation and brief involvement in the World Cup qualifying tournament, a slow response to a bed shortage which nearly cost the Island the chance to host the return leg World Cup second round qualifying match against El Salvador, the mysterious and abrupt resignation of top BFA executive Robert Calderon late last year, numerous anonymous letters publicly criticising the association in this newspaper, sporadic outbreaks of violence at football matches in the last two years and recent calls for Mussenden ? also the Attorney General and a member of the Cabinet ? to resign, as well as a host of other issues yet to be dealt with.

Also, at the height of the World Cup campaign, a bitter feud ensued involving the BFA chief and Sports Minister Dale Butler while the association has also endured its share of run-ins with the Trustees of the National Sports Centre over outstanding debts for use of the facility as a training base for all national teams.

The group also charge ?excessive? amounts of money have been squandered on ?unnecessary? things such as a new building to house the association?s headquarters and training facilities at a time when local club facilities and their administrations remain in a state of decay.

It is understood the group?s primary objective is to implement drastic changes at all levels in an effort to get players, coaches and affiliates ? who combined constitute the BFA ? all back on the same page to help restore local football to the considerable heights it previously enjoyed.

Earlier this week the association forwarded a Press release to The Royal Gazette highlighting some of Mussenden?s accomplishments as president of the BFA during his first term ranging from the purchase of new office furniture to securing a lucrative muti-year sponsorship deal with AT&T Wireless.

Yesterday, the embattled BFA chief welcomed the challenge at this month?s AGM.

?I am aware of the challenge for presidency of the BFA,? he said.

?But we are a democratic organisation and if people feel they want to run for the presidency then that is a good thing for football in Bermuda. It shows there are people out there who are interested in being involved in football.?

What I?ve Done:See Page 19