Andrew Bascome, the national team coach, has shown a strong interest in entering a team in the Bermuda Football Association’s senior ranks, sources have revealed.

It is understood that the former North Village, Devonshire Cougars, Boulevard and Robin Hood coach has submitted an application to the BFA in the hope of obtaining approval to enter a team in the First Division next season.

Bascome is heavily involved with coaching at his ABC Football School and the Valencia FC Academy, who are both based at Saltus Grammar School and play in the BFA’s youth leagues under different names.

It remains unclear, though, which team Bascome intends to enter into the First Division or whether the two will merge under one banner.

Bascome could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, reliable sources have informed The Royal Gazette that he has already submitted an application to enter a team for next season.

Cal Blankendal, the BFA vice-president, revealed that the BFA had received several applications for next season but could not confirm whether any of the teams linked with Bascome were among the list of applicants.

“We have received multiple applications for the upcoming season and each application will be handled according to the constitution and by-laws,” Blankendal said.

“As soon as we have completed the process on all new applications, we will inform each applicant, affiliates and all other stakeholders.”

Blankendal emphasised that any new team joining the BFA’s leagues must enter at the First Division level.

“Any new team can only start in the lowest division,” he said. “So it would have to be the First Division and all new applications in senior football have to go before the congress [First Division].”

In 2010, Bascome helped establish the ABC Football School. The aim of the school’s football concept is to develop children and youth players between the ages of 6 and 18.

A year later, the ABC Football School struck a three-year partnership with Valencia, the Spanish side from La Liga, which resulted in them establishing an academy on the Island.

The partnership enables local coaches to broaden their knowledge of the game under the direction of coaches from Valencia.

Young players have also had the opportunity to broaden their own football and academic horizons at Valencia’s Next Generation Programme in Spain.

The partnership has led to Valencia holding coaching camps on the Island.

As well as Bermuda, Valencia also have academies in Egypt and Japan.