to resolution following a lengthy meeting yesterday involving Bermuda Football Association, Bermuda Referees Association and other affiliate members.

However, senior soccer will remain suspended at least until Thursday, with more discussions planned through Wednesday, when it is hoped that a final determination will be made.

"The BRA met and explained their situation to the affiliates, basically, raising their concerns,'' explained BFA treasurer Delroy O'Brien, who presided over the gathering at Young Men's Social Club attended by just 11 affiliates.

"The affiliates agreed with the concerns that the BRA had, so now we have to go back to the BFA office and follow procedure in circulating them among our affiliate body.

"The BRA are going to take the their recommendations back to their members (today) for a vote. The BFA executive and the BRA will in turn meet with the BFA president Neville Tyrrell on Tuesday. And the BFA executive have a meeting on Wednesday.

"So, there are a series of meetings that have to take place before the decision is made as to where we go with football.'' While refusing to divulge exact details of the concerns raised by the BRA, which undoubtedly included matters of protection for match officials from both fans and players, O'Brien was optimistic that an amicable solution could be soon reached.

"Everyone agreed that it is a workable situation, provided everybody follows the agreement that was made at this meeting today,'' said O'Brien. "The dialogue has been very productive and all parties accept the shared responsibility. We realise that we have gotten away from some things that we all agreed to in the past, which is why we're in the situation we are today.'' BRA president Lyndon Raynor, like O'Brien, expressed cautious optimism at the possibility of having soccer resume sooner rather than later.

"I think we're being heard,'' said Raynor. "All the affiliates, including the Referees Association, have to do what is necessary to get soccer back on the fields.

"Today's meeting was good and gave some people the opportunity to get certain things off their chests ... we all left here with the understanding that we have collectively failed and now need to collectively come together and get this thing back on the road.

"We're meeting Monday night and it is my personal desire and hope that I can take something back to the BFA Tuesday morning, have some more dialogue through the week, and who knows ... we may be back sooner than we anticipated.

"We want the mechanism to roll, we realise that soccer will continue beyond us. So therefore, we all agreed today that there are some short-term goals and some long-term goals.''