El James is ready to stand down as president of Bermuda Cricket Board of Control _ and club officials will be officially informed of his intentions at the annual general meeting in three months' time.

After three years at the helm, James believes that now is the right time to move on, pointing out that his administration have accomplished many of the objectives set when they took over.

The PLB backbencher said yesterday he believed cricket on the whole was better off now than when he came into office, both structurally and financially, although he was mindful that his administration were unable to reach all of their goals.

"I think in three years we have done a lot, we've never stood by idly and cricket as a result is better off today," he said.

"This is my third completed season and as I stated when I took over, I wanted to give it three years. At this time I think I have achieved most of what I set out to do, not all, but most and I am satisfied and ready to hand the presidency over to somebody else.

"We do have an AGM coming up at the end of this year or early next year and I feel that I have done my part and the time is ripe to let some fresh ideas, some fresh blood, come in to take it to the next level."

James proudly lists among his achievements the complete revival of a youth league after a six-year absence. The BCBC have formed national youth teams in the under-19 and under-15 divisions and got the squads involved in international competition.

They have also taken on Guyanese Mark Harper as national coach and received solid support from the business sector, many companies offering to back the development of youth cricket.

"We have done our part, we have brought cricket back, there is no doubt that we have revitalised it," added James proudly.

"We've brought back the youth tournaments, we now have a lot of youths who are playing cricket unlike we had before. Many of these youngsters are also generating a lot of interest at the senior level where they are making an impact.

"We are extremely proud of the fact that we have an under-15 team for the first time, one that represented us in the Cayman Islands and came back triumphantly. Our under-19s are now competitive again. A few years back we couldn't make an impact at international tournaments, but with the youth we have now involved in our programmes we are doing well and our cricket is looking good."

James felt the Board had also made significant progress in coaching, citing the fact that they had staged several clinics during the three years and as a result there were now eight coaches who had reached the second year level of coaching.

Most, he hoped, would go on to attain the advanced coaching certificate during a course that has already been set up to take place within the next few months.

James said the public would next year see some of the fruits from the planning and input of coach Harper who was currently helping to revitalise cricket in the schools.

Harper would also be instrumental in launching a 12-month plan for all of the national teams.

The Board's cash flow, said James, was another positive sign of the work carried by his administration.

"I am pleased to say that right now we are financially sound. That again was something that we didn't find when we came into office and we are also proud of this turnaround."

But the BCBC chief doesn't hide the fact that there are still needs for cricket such as a home ground for the national teams.

"We are looking into something and hope to have the search for finding a home completed by December. A facility for this is desperately needed, so that once you assemble a national squad the players know exactly where they are going to be training."

Much of the credit for recent achievements, added James, should be shared by the sponsors who had readily come forward, many of whom were not prepared to put up money for cricket when he and his executives came into office.

"We have never had a problem getting sponsors for our youth programmes, in fact we were probably over subscribed," said James.

"We have a lot of individuals out there who would love to put money into youth programmes, but right now we have Shell, BF&M, the Bank of Bermuda and Barritt's who have stuck with us and I am sure they are proud to be helping these kids.

"We would love for the youth league to run a little better, we continue to strive for perfection there. Each year we run into a few snags, but with the coach on board now to work with our youth co-ordinator, I am very optimistic that we will see vast progress in the near future."