In a shock move, Neville Tyrrell was believed to have confirmed his resignation as president of Bermuda Football Association at the annual general meeting last night.

At press time, the closed meeting at Young Men's Social Club in Hamilton had just concluded, but nobody from the BFA executive, Tyrrell included, could be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

Earlier sources revealed that Tyrrell released a memorandum to all affiliate members some two weeks ago, announcing his resignation effective 12 midnight, July 31 (last night), barely a year into his second term.

No reasons were given for the move to step down, with Tyrrell failing to return calls made by The Royal Gazette yesterday afternoon.

BFA general secretary David Sabir would neither confirm nor deny that his boss had notified the relevant parties of any such decision.

However, it was revealed that an election of officers was on the agenda for last night's meeting, although this did not necessarily mean the election of a successor to Tyrrell was imminent.

The clubs still held the option of refusing to accept the decision of Tyrrell, and it was intimated in some quarters that the memorandum was simply a move to garner a vote of confidence from the membership.

"I think it may just be a ploy to see what support is out there, and then he'll go on business as usual," said one source. "You had the election last year where there was some controversy, and then all the bad press, so he may just be looking for some moral support."

Tyrrell, the incumbent, defeated Mark Trott in a hotly disputed presidential race that divided affiliates into two factions. PHC president Chris Furbert led a rebel sect which opposed the legitimacy of the vote on constitutional grounds, asserting that the deciding vote cast by presiding officer Eugene Blakeney contravened by-laws which indicated that first vice-president Aldwyn Savery should have headed the meeting and thus possessed the final vote, if needed.

An arbitration panel later decided in favour of Tyrrell, and he continued to lead the Association.

As for possible candidates to the position of president, new names are hard to come by.

Savery stands out as the most obvious. As a director, he ran a failed bid against Tyrrell back in 1996, and as the second to the president it would seem the logical next move, but it was not known whether he would be willing to throw his hat into the ring this time around.

Mark Trott was another, although he would have to give up his prestigious, and paid, position as national coach if he was to run and be elected.

Kyle Lightbourne scored on an impressive debut for Macclesfield Town as they beat Tranmere Rovers 2-0 in a pre-season friendly last night.

Lightbourne put his new team ahead in style four minutes into the second half with a chip from 16 yards after the goalkeeper had strayed off his line.

The Bermudian had been in the thick of the action at Moss Rose all night and had twice gone close to scoring in the first half. He was substituted in the 57th minute.

John Eyre wrapped up the Third Division side's victory over Second Division Rovers with a second goal in the 74th minute.