Bermuda coach Michael Findlay has welcomed the new Nations League format announced by Concacaf, which will see matches being played at centralised venues.

Ahead of the start of the league next month, Concacaf made an announcement that during each Fifa window matches will be played at one venue per group, instead of the traditional home-and-away format.

“This format change alleviates some of the travel challenges that member associations face due to our region's unique geography and allows them to focus on delivering the best possible football,’’ Concacaf said.

“The third-best-ranked teams in each group will host the September matches, the second-best-ranked teams will host the October matches and the best-ranked teams will host the decisive November matches.

“If a team was unable or declined to host matches, Concacaf has selected an alternative venue.”

Bermuda are in League B group D together with Dominican Republic, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica.

Findlay’s side travel to Antigua for their first two assignments to be played at the ABFA Technical Centre. They clash with Dominican Republic on September 7, before they face the host nation three days later.

During the October window, the action comes to Bermuda, when Findlay’s squad will have a double-header against Dominica and, likewise, Antigua will play twice against the Dominican Republic. The final set of fixtures are scheduled for the Dominican Republic in November, when Bermuda will play their return matches against the host country and Antigua.

Findlay, who has during the one year he has been in charge of Bermuda bemoaned the travel challenges endured by teams in the Concacaf region, lauded the move to centralise matches.

“I welcome this move purely from the benefit of the players’ point of view,’’ Findlay told The Royal Gazette.

“It gives the players a much better chance to be in the best possible condition because the travel can be quite extensive in a short period of time.

“The Caribbean, which a vast majority of the teams that are in the Concacaf region, for us it’s not easy. Travel can be interrupted through a lot of situations like weather.

“These have adverse effects on the players. We have in the past been stuck in an airport for up to 24 hours. That’s not healthy. It certainly affects the players, both physically and emotionally.

“By getting the players into one venue, they are able to acclimatise as best possible, and they are able to stay in one place for regeneration and get ready for the second match.

“The travel in and out becomes much easier for them when they are going back to their respective clubs. I think it’s a very smart move and we support it 100 per cent.

“As it relates to the Bermudian fan, the first thought was, ‘Oh, we don’t get to see the team play’. Well, in October, you’ll get to see the team play twice at home, and you’ll also get to see the other teams [against each other] as well.”

“It’s a bit of a football festival, it’s an opportunity for the Bermudian fans to have a week of international competition right on their doorstep.”

Findlay spoke of the huge role played by the Bermuda Football Association and the other associations in lobbying for what Concacaf has implemented.

“We have to applaud the BFA and other member associations,’’ the coach said.

“Mark Wade, the BFA president, was very positive about it and wanted to push for this, and Concacaf were receptive to it. They understand the challenge.

“All of the associations were doing the lobbying, but I know we had talked about it, and we wished Concacaf could assist in this process.

“I’m sure all the associations were requesting some form of change because it’s not just us who were finding this very difficult.

“It was a situation that was happening all over; I’m sure it was a discussion that was happening at the very top level.

“Since I've been there, the BFA has always wanted what’s best for the players at the capacity that we compete.

“We know it takes planning and logistics, but at the end of the day, I think the most important thing is that the new format benefits the players. We want the players to be in the best possible condition when required.”

Findlay and his selection panel have already named the players for the trip to Antigua, with the BFA expected to make that squad public in the coming days.