St George's Colts manager Kenny Bascome has accused Bermuda Football Association of unfairly punishing his team twice by moving their Dudley Eve Cup final to Somerset Cricket Club tomorrow night.

Bascome also accused the BFA of ignoring the difficulties the decision creates for his team and disrepecting the community of St George's as a whole.

Originally scheduled to be played in St David's on New Year's Day, the game was moved following the tragic death of Dandy Town player Machai Campbell, and now Colts will have to take on Trojans in Somerset's own backyard.

St George's were due to play Somerset Eagles yesterday at Wellington Oval but the game was postponed so that they could be ready for the final, and Bascome believes that they will also lose their home advantage for the league game when it is re-arranged.

"First of all I would like to say that I am normally very supportive of the association, but in this instance I don't think that they are operating in the best interests of St George's club or of the community as a whole," said Bascome.

"I am not moaning about the situation but I am making a stand on behalf of the wider community of St George's. The BFA can charge me with bringing the game into disrepute but I know that I am right, and can stand my ground if they want to talk about it.

"It (the decision) creates several difficulties for us. Firstly, we are a young side, with several school age players in our team, who are being asked to travel to the other side of the Island and won't get back till late.

"We also have several working class people in our side, who need to go home to get ready before getting to Somerset by 6 o'clock. And we know from our previous trip how difficult it can be to get to the West End at that time of night. Last time, we only made it to Trimingham Hill roundabout by 5.30 p.m.

"We will lose two-thirds of our supporters because of this. Once it had been called off on New Year's Day, why couldn't it have been arranged for during the day on Sunday? That way young people could go, and I know for a a fact that mature citizens aren't going to drive all the way to Somerset from St George's on a Tuesday night."

Re-arranging the game to Sunday would have erased Bascome's travel concerns, and could also have solved the questions the Colts coach has about neutrality. Despite the game being the final of a cup competition, Trojans will be able to play at home in front of a largely partisan crowd.

"Someone said that it has to be in Somerset because they (Somerset) are on the verge of making history," said Bascome. "But we have never been in the final before and we are on the verge of making history as well. I do not believe that the BFA is being very respectful to the club or to the citizens of St George's.

"This game should have been played on a Sunday afternoon, at a neutral venue, as it would be in most other cup competitions in the world. Our president, Neil Paynter, met with the BFA last week, and left the meeting under the impression that the game would be played at a neutral venue. I would like to know what changed.

"We are also being punished twice, because I bet we lose the home field advantage that we would have had this weekend (in the league). I know that they (the BFA) will re-schedule the game for a week night, which means that we won't be able to play at home. The game should be played at the Wellington Oval, but it won't be."

David Sabir, the BFA General Secretary, defended the association's decision to have the game in Somerset, insisting that finals were always played at club grounds.

"The executive made a decision that was accepted by all those involved, if not intially. The finals are always held at club grounds. If the game had been at St David's, and St David's had made the final, it wouldn't have been changed."