Sports Minister Dale Butler issued an apparently idle threat yesterday to coaches whose athletes do not train with the national squad for next year's CARIFTA Games.

Incensed by the prospect of Bermuda fielding a diluted contingent at the annual regional athletics showpiece here next Easter, Butler said Government would have to consider any assistance it renders to offending coaches and their respective clubs.

"That would be most unfortunate and we would have to look very seriously at those coaches who would probably not receive any funding from this department.

"Any group that does not show it's prepared to compromise in the best interest of young people and the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA), we would have to think a second and third time as to whether or not we would be able to fund any of their programmes or support them in any way.

"The Games are bigger than those little coaches' egos and the children are involved. Don't compromise the children. Deal with it on your national level.

"You've got to be a team player and sometimes it means a compromise. That's life. I think there's too much ego involved."

Butler added that he thought some coaches did not want to give up athletes by the December 15 deadline for joining the national programme because they were afraid they would not share in the glory if an athlete from their club excelled at CARIFTA.

However, heads of two athletics clubs were puzzled by the minister's comments, noting their organisations had never received any Government funding and that, as far as they knew, no other clubs had either.

The BTFA, Butler said, were aware of Cabinet's concern over the December 15 deadline and the ensuing outcry from coaches and, as far as he could recall, the date had not been set in stone.

"They are aware of the Cabinet's concern and they were going to go back and reconsider."

However, he urged all clubs to see "the wisdom in moving forward with the BTFA".

"I'm making an appeal for them to join their national association and bury the hatchet. Those guys need to get on board . . . and see Bermuda out there with our best."

Such a stand-off, he warned, could impact the BTFA's fund-raising as the corporate community "is watching closely" to see how this matter is resolved.

Butler said he was willing to meet with any of the aggrieved coaches "at any time" to discuss their issues as his role was to facilitate a proper CARIFTA Games of which Bermuda could be proud.

"The Government's responsibility was to indicate that it agreed to CARIFTA coming here and that it would back the Games because there are financial implications. That's all we can do."

Despite backing the BTFA, the minister admitted being bothered by this impasse and by repeated complaints from athletics clubs over its governing body's operations.

However, he insisted it was the BTFA affiliates who had to deal with such matters.

"I'm concerned but there's nothing according to the IAAF rules that I can do. The internal workings of the BTFA have to be resolved the same way all organisations are held accountable. Parliament is held accountable by the electorate. Clubs are held accountable by their members. The members have a responsibility to deal with these issues.

"All I can do is continue to encourage the BTFA or inform them of different things that I'm hearing. They are aware of all these issues and they have tried to the best of their ability to tackle them. They have rules and regulations in place but there are various groups who decide they want to do things themselves," said Butler, suggesting that the current situation was symptomatic of a wider social problem.

"It's becoming a Bermuda problem. Nobody wants to take instructions.

"We have parking restrictions and people say 'I should be allowed on one night to park in the middle of the road or go get my Kentucky Fried Chicken for five minutes'."