The perennial shortage of local football referees, highlighted in The Royal Gazette earlier week, has forced the postponement of a match on the opening day of the league season tomorrow, writes Colin Thompson.

Bermuda Football Association confirmed yesterday that the First Division clash between Wolves and Prospect at BAA Field had been called off as no one was available to officiate the game.

When contacted, former BFA Referees' Committee chairman Gregory Grimes (pictured) said: "Because of either work commitments, injuries or members currently overseas there was absolutely no way that we were able to manoeuvre anyone else to get that game played."

Referees and linesmen have already been forced to double up for the Premier and First Division matches at Bernard Park tomorrow, while there will only be one referee's assistant assigned to the remaining First Division matches.

"We just don't have enough personnel to put out in the middle," added Grimes, who noted that due to the lack of manpower several newly recruited assistants would be forced to officiate.

"We really don't want them (recruits) to referee a game but we have been forced to," he said.

Meanwhile, tomorrow's postponement has presented Wolves coach Leroy (Curly Joe) Wilson with another opportunity to sort out some outstanding matters.

"In a way this has worked in my team's favour because they are still not quite where I want them to be and a lot things still need to be sorted out from an administrative perspective," said Wilson.