Bailey's Bay have rejected the transfer of temperamental wicketkeeper Jason Anderson.

Anderson recently attempted to switch from St.George's Cricket Club to the reigning Eastern Counties champions after serving out a one-year suspension imposed by Bermuda Cricket Board in 2001.

But Bay officials now say they don't want the player.

Anderson was suspended for his part in a heated verbal exchange with then St.George's team-mate Kameron Fox in a match, ironically, against Bay at Sea Breeze Oval.

That incident followed on the heels of Anderson's Cup Match debut for St.George's at Wellington Oval in which the player angrily left the pitch after being dismissed in the first innings. He was also alleged to have destroyed St.George's Club property and is currently serving a lengthy ban from the east end club for an unrelated matter.

Anderson won't be eligible to play at Wellington Oval - expected to re-open later this summer - for the entire season.

“We already have a wicketkeeper and we will be going with the same players who played for us last year,” said Bay president Gary Caisey yesterday.

Caisey said that Anderson's past disciplinary problems didn't help his cause.

“The decision was more or less based on the fact that we are in a rebuilding mode,” added Caisey. “And Jason just didn't fit the package.”

Bay are preparing for life in the First Division after being relegated last season. The club also endured their share of disciplinary problems last year when key players Corey Hill and Jermaine Warner both received lengthy bans from the BCB after tempers flared during Bay's league match against Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval.

Hill received a five-match ban for entering onto the pitch to protest the dismissal of Warner after the hard-hitting opening batsman was run out. The latter received a six-match ban.

Caisey said the final decision on Anderson was made by his committee.

“We thought that we can do without Jason in particular this year with him being suspended from St.George's Cricket Club and all. He is a good player mind you. But his past is not too tidy.”

The new Bay president said he had faith in the players that had stood by the club through thick and thin.

“We mainly stayed away from Jason simply to support the players who stuck with us all through last year through the tough times,” added Caisey, who singled out the valuable contributions made by current club wicketkeeper Rodney Masters last season.

“It just wouldn't be fair to Rodney (Masters). Besides, the transfer (Anderson's) was not unauthorised by us. It was sort of sneaked in without any of the committee members' knowledge.

“And any new transfers have to first be accepted by the committee.

“Some people really think that they can just bounce around from club to club. “

He (Anderson) just turned up to train without the committee even knowing anything about the transfer.”