Director of youth and sport Norbert Simons yesterday strongly urged Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) and a significant group of disillusioned affiliates to quickly settle their differences and resolve an ongoing dispute with the potential to spill over into the courts.

With both sides at odds over a litany of concerns relating to the current state of the sport, and affiliates seeking a vote of no confidence against the BCB’s current administration, Simons remains highly optimistic that “cooler heads” will ultimately prevail and that both sides will eventually reach an “amicable resolution”.

“We at the Ministry of Education and Sport certainly hope both sides will be able to sit down and resolve their differences. Obviously the Board is a representation of all of the clubs, and if the clubs are unhappy with what’s going on they can call a special general meeting — providing they inform the BCB of their agenda or they can have an election at an AGM and make a change,” Simons said.

It was learned yesterday that the group had submitted an official notice to the BCB last Friday requesting their presence at a July 24 special general meeting scheduled to be held at the Devonshire Recreation Club.

“We gave them (BCB) a notice and an agenda for the meeting which among the items listed is a vote of no confidence,”confirmed Devonshire Recreation Club president Ellsworth Christopher, spokesperson for the group of affiliates.

“I personally took the letter around to the BCB last Friday (July 13) and handed it to Samantha (BCB employee Samantha Dill).”

However, according to BCB secretary Marc Wetherhill, affiliates “can request an SGM (special general meeting) but cannot call one at this stage”.

“The Bye-Laws (BCB) state that such request is required to be signed by five members. On receipt of a request we would have 21 days to send out a notice convening an SGM. The Executive will be meeting tonight (last night) to discuss matters generally and to determine when the SGM will be.

“But at this stage no notice has been sent out to all the clubs,” Wetherhill said in a written statement.

It is understood both sides have sought legal advice on the matter, with affiliates also contemplating seeking a judicial review as a possible alternative for reaching a resolution.

Simons hopes the impasse will not eventually spill over into the courts and remains upbeat both parties have it within themselves to come to an agreement without having to take such drastic measures.

“I’m sure that if cooler heads prevail and everyone can go in with clear objectives and the like, both sides should be able to deal with this matter,” he said. “And unless this issue becomes a destabilising factor that is going to cripple the BCB, then I don’t think there’s any real need for concern.”

Former BCB executive Allen Richardson — who resigned from the Board last May — also called for cooler heads to prevail in the wake of last week’s stormy meeting between the two parties at Devonshire Recreation Club where BCB executives eventually walked out on members following heated exchange between opposing sides on certain key arguments.

“With all of the clubs present at that meeting I thought it would’ve been a good opportunity for the BCB to find out what was going on because basically they work for the clubs,” Richardson said.

“Obviously it saddens me to see what is going on, but the BCB are put in place by the clubs to run cricket in a particular manner. And whenever a large group of clubs that you represent come with concerns you should always listen to their demands and try to come to an amicable agreement.”

lBermuda Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday announced the Island’s ICC Intercontinental Cup squad that will travel to Europe in early August to take on the Netherlands and Ireland.

Bailey’s Bay all-rounder Irving Romaine has retained captaincy of the squad while Bay team mate Stephen Outerbridge has been appointed vice captain in place of the retired Dean Minors.

Bermuda travel to Denmark August 6 to play two one day warm up matches before arriving in Holland to play the Netherlands in the four-day Intercontinental Cup August 13 to 16 followed by two ODIs against their hosts on August 18 and 20.

The national team will then travel to Ireland on August 21 to play the Irish in their second Intercontinental Cup match August 23 to 26.

Bermuda Intercontinental Cup squad: Irving Romaine (capt), Stephen Outerbridge (vice capt), Dwayne Leverock, Lionel Cann, Azeem Pitcher, Kevin Hurdle, Jekon Edness, James Celestine, Maurice Lowe, Roderick Masters, George O’Brien jr, Arthur Pitcher, Ryan Steede, Greg Maybury jr.

Under 19 cricketers Stefan Kelly, Malachi Jones, Rodney Trott and Christopher Douglas will all join up with the squad in Ireland as replacements for wicketkeeper Masters, Lowe, Azeem Pitcher and young Maybury.