We?ve got the cash, so what on earth are you waiting for?

That was the question being asked by the Bermuda Cricket Board yesterday, who revealed they have received only three requests for extra funding from sports clubs.

This is despite sending out a memo to all club executives in January informing them that the Board were preparing to dish out the $100,000 donated by Texan billionaire and Stanford 20-20 organiser Allen Stanford and inviting them to submit applications for money as soon as possible.

But so far only Western Stars, Police and Legtrappers have written back, leaving the Board frustrated once again at the lethargic response.

It is understood that Stars have asked the Board for money to build brand new nets in the south east corner of their ground at St. John?s Road while Police want to revamp their entire field, clubhouse and netting facilities.

The Legtrappers have requested money for a bowling machine.

Stanford?s $100,000, handed over to the BCB in January during the Texan?s whistlestop tour of the Caribbean region on his private jet, is part of a $280,000 package which will be given to Bermuda over the next ten months and is to be invested both in the national team and the domestic cricketing infrastructure.

The BCB?s Stanford committee will work hand in hand with the Government?s recently-established Clubs Commission, headed by Rolfe Commissiong, which will also be responsible for allocating funds to different club projects.

?The money is there to help the clubs make some urgent improvements to their facilities,? said BCB secretary Marc Wetherhill yesterday.

?We have tried to be as efficient and communicative as we can with this ? which is the reason we let the clubs know in January that a committee was being established to consider applications for funds.

?We have had some replies, but nowhere near as many as we?d hoped by this stage.

?We at the BCB wanted to see the money handed out and the improvements made before the beginning of the season in April, but the longer the clubs leave it to apply, the less likely that is.

?How long it takes depends on what they want. If it is just a question of purchasing a bowling machine or some pitch covers, then we could be talking a couple of weeks.

?If they want some new nets built, then we are looking at six weeks or longer before they are built and playable.

?Within reason and provided their applications are done properly, we are in a position to provide the clubs with whatever they need.

?So we again are urging the clubs to get in touch with us immediately. We recognise that the revamping of the Island?s sports clubs is incredibly important for the future prosperity of cricket in Bermuda and we want the clubs to buy into this idea.?

The Board is also offering the clubs a deal with regards to purchasing the coloured clothing which is to be worn for all league and cup limited overs matches this season.

Provided the $1,000 annual dues to the BCB are paid on time, Wetherhill explained, the Board will offer a ?dollar for dollar credit? on the clothing purchased ? allowing the clubs to recoup a significant portion of the fees they must pay the governing body.