Speculation over who will be the next Bermuda Football Association president intensified yesterday with news that Robert Calderon is seriously considering a bid for the top post.

Calderon (pictured) could not immediately be reached for comment on his reported leadership challenge, but reliable sources told The Royal Gazette that a campaign platform was being formulated by the former Bermuda national coach to be distributed among BFA affiliate members in advance of the scheduled election on August 28.

Just who might be willing to support Calderon, who has had a sometimes stormy relationship with the BFA hierarchy under the administration of immediate past president Neville Tyrrell, is largely unknown with most clubs contacted yesterday preferring not to comment specifically on any candidate.

However, one person confident in Calderon's ability as a leader is Mark Trott, the very man who succeeded him as national coach, and whose run at the presidential spot just over a year ago came up agonisingly short.

Trott lost a controversial decision to Tyrrell after presiding officer Eugene Blakeney was called on to break a 12-12 tie, siding with the then incumbent. That precipitated a row over the legality of the process, which was eventually resolved via tribunal.

"It's not a bad idea at all," said Trott. "I feel he's more than capable, and a very professional person who can get the job done. (But) it's a matter to be resolved on the day and would ultimately come down to the clubs and what they decide."

Calderon is widely respected for his 'smarts' both on and off the pitch, having played for North Village and Bermuda, coached at both club and international levels, while also possessing solid management skills. Possessing a Bachelor's degree in hotel management, Calderon's professional career has seen him occupy human resource managerial posts at Princess Properties, Elbow Beach, Bank of Bermuda and currently at Capital G, as well as sitting on the Public Service Commission. He is also a former member of the immigration board.

"I would say that he's a very smart guy, and might very well be the one to do the job," said one affiliate spokesperson, not willing to be named. "Still, we would have to see and be secure in his mission statement and platform before making the ultimate decision to vote for him or anyone else who decides to try their hand.

"Calderon has the football background, but more important is the ability to manage and bring football together as a coherent unit working towards a common goal, and I think it will more be his professional side that we'd be looking at in terms of running the organisation.

"The other thing is to have someone who can communicate with the media and allow football to be more transparent, so that we don't have all this negative publicity lingering around in the papers because no one wants to step up to the plate, state our case clearly and in that way diffuse the situation."

Asked if Calderon had a realistic shot at winning if he did indeed decide to stand for office, the source said: "As good a chance as any, maybe even better if you look at what's out there at the moment."