Former Bermuda Football Association (BFA) executive Robert Calderon, part of a rebel group seeking to oust current BFA president Larry Mussenden, officially drew the battle lines ahead of tonight?s anxiously awaited Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Police Recreation Club.

Calderon, who resigned as chairman of the association?s technical committee late last year, applauded some of the achievements of the past three years under Mussenden?s leadership but believes the ultimate benchmark for success has to come from the playing field.

And it is here the former executive says Mussenden?s administration has fallen short and left much to be desired.

He also defended his group that are set to oppose the incumbent tonight and preferred instead to label them as ?concerned individuals? as opposed to rebels.

It is now understood the group will be backing Mark Trott as their candidate to oppose Mussenden at tonight?s AGM.

While Calderon refused to reveal any names of the group, understands BFA Honorary Vice Presidents Carlton (Pepe) Dill and Leroy (Nibs) Lewis, former BFA technical director Clyde Best and former PHC Zebras coach Alfie Eve are among those who oppose Mussenden and are poised to back Trott for the top post.

?This group has worked very hard to remain positive while democratically seeking change during the upcoming elections. Being labelled rebels is unfortunate, particularly as the BFA?s constitution affords interested individuals the opportunity to run during their elections,? he said.

?The fact that five former national squad coaches, two honorary vice presidents, three former professional players and six very prominent former national squad players ? all with over 100 years of combined service in football who believe the local game is slipping into an abyss ? should not only concern the current executive but also open their eyes to the many problems that exist at the grass roots level.?

One of those problems, said Calderon, was the belief Bermuda?s involvement in more overseas competition will provide the panacea.

He explained: ?There are those in the BFA executive who believe that the only way forward is via international football only. This runs contrary to what former BFA administrations, of which I was a part, presented to the affiliates during the last election.

?We stated that our efforts would largely concentrate on improving the domestic game, as it was the only way to ensure that our national programme improved. Clearly this has not been the case while results at the international level indicate that little or no improvement has been made in that arena.

?We can speak to computers being purchased and executives being selected as match commissioners in CONCACAF but ultimately the benchmark for success must be what takes place on the playing field. And that picture isn?t pretty.?

Calderon, who chaired the BFA technical committee that appointed Kenny Thompson as youth director, believes it was a big mistake to pry the latter away from his youth duties to concentrate, instead, solely on the senior national team?s involvement in the World Cup, thus stagnating the progress of national youth teams at a critical stage.

?What disappoints me and many others is that the BFA chose to transfer Kenny from his primary role (as youth director) to that of the senior national team. Kenny?s involvement in the ill-fated senior World Cup qualifiers seriously and negatively impacted our youth national teams preparation.

?This resulted in both teams performing poorly in Jamaica and Cuba. Preparing youth teams less than six weeks ahead of competitions that were the cornerstone of our international development programme is something that needs to be addressed, hence my involvement with a group of solid citizens that see the need for change in the leadership of the BFA.?

Regarding a previous decision not to seek a technical director, something the group are now pressing for, Calderon, while agreeing with comments made by Mussenden earlier this week, yesterday stuck to his guns.

?I believed at the time that in order for our football to move forward it was necessary to hire a Youth Development Officer with the primary responsibility being to improve our game at the domestic level while simultaneously ensuring that our youth national teams prepared for national commitments at the World Youth Cup levels,? he explained.

?There are others in the group that believe that our current situation requires the selection of a technical director, someone that has a significant and proven track record at the international level. Their (the group?s) reasons are compelling and I have become a convert. This group of mature and responsible men had no interest in publicly discussing our issues, however given the recent comments made in the media by some members of the current BFA executive I felt it necessary to speak openly and honestly on the matter.?