Bermuda Cricket Board of Control and Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association have apparently decided to kiss and make up.

The two groups were often at odds under the previous BCBC administration, even sparking an umpires' strike and later prompting the formation of a splinter umpire group.

But BCBC vice president Gladstone (Sad) Brown this week confirmed that president El James had asked him to spearhead a move that would bring the two bodies closer together. And there are already signs progress is being made.

"We recognise that there have been a few problems existing between the two in the past and I have been given the responsibility to liaise with the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association to help improve the situation,'' said Brown. "We have talked about some common things that we need to do to improve the situation and the conversations have gone well.'' Two of the biggest concerns among umpires are the collection of their match fees and the manner in which discipline is handled.

Umpires have always had great difficulty in collecting fees at the end of the season, and the point has been brought up previously with the Board. A number of clubs and organisations still owe several hundred dollars in outstanding fees.

Umpires are also urging faster action when it comes to BCBC discipline. They want hearings to be dealt with right away rather than having them drag on while players are still allowed to represent their teams.

Brown said it was possible that disciplinary hearings could be held within a week of an incident -- or at least prior to that player representing his club on the following weekend after he has been reported by an umpire.

"We think something like this is workable, but we want to discuss it further (with umpires), among other suggestions that they have concerns about,'' said Brown.

"The relationship between us will be improved, it's my responsibility to meet and try to hear and understand any problems that they may have. It will be an ongoing dialogue. If there is a situation when we are in need of getting something clarified or straightened out then there would be no delay in meeting them to deal with it.'' Secretary of the BCUA, Randy Butler, said: "We have had one meeting and another is planned in the near future. It's good that they have made an effort to contact us to discuss some of our concerns. We always felt that communicating meant so much. We hardly had any contact with the previous board, their liaison officer hardly ever wanted to meet with us ... just on a crisis situation. This lot have opened the door to meet early and often so we can learn from each other.''