Charlie Marshall admitted the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) erred in its decision to go with nine teams for the upcoming season following the withdrawal of Hotels International.

Marshall confirmed last night that a team will be put into the First Division to fill the vacancy. But just who that will be has not yet been decided.

St. David's, one of the two relegated teams last season, had submitted a letter to the association, with support from other clubs, seeking to have the association reconsider its original decision to play with just nine teams.

St. David's stand to benefit from the decision, having been the second relegated team last season, while Wolves, the third-placed team in the Second Division, are the other strong candidates for a First Division place.

"We are obligated to fill the vacancy caused by Hotels,'' said the president.

"Under the rules the association erred in its deliberations. If there is a withdrawal of one team then the executive committee shall fill the vacancy.'' The leagues committee held a meeting last night and some recommendations will be put to the executives who will meet tomorrow night.

The first round of league matches for the new season are scheduled for the weekend of October 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, Marshall said the BFA is not deliberately denying locals a chance at occupying the newly created job of director of coaching.

He added that it will be the duty of the so far unnamed director, who is believed to be a German, to train a Bermudian with the intention of the latter eventually taking over the reins.

"We will be pursuing a Bermudian to take his place,'' said Marshall recently.

"The initial programme will be implemented by the new director of coaching, but it is the association's intentions during the period of his employment to find a suitable Bermudian that we could give the necessary training.'' Marshall was responding to comments made by local applicant Keith Tucker, current soccer coach of Howard University, who felt snubbed by the rejection of his application for the position.

"I can pull the Bermuda system out of the dumps,'' Tucker told The Royal Gazette last week. "What the BFA are asking for I'm doing already.'' However, it is his lack of experience on the national level that seems to have kept him out of the running.

Marshall added: "I'm not saying that Tucker didn't have the qualifications, but we need someone with the total package, including that of having been on the national level.'' Former president Gerard Bean, the head of the coaching committee charged with filling the post, refused comment on the issue of Tucker's failed application.

Meanwhile, Marshall said that they were still awaiting a response from the one successful applicant.