another controversy -- this time with the Bermuda Union of Teachers -- won't have come as any great surprise.

After all, rows and resignations are nothing new to the Island's governing body of athletics.

In fact, in recent years the BTFA has found itself in the headlines more for the type of wrangling which scarred last week's annual general meeting than for any accomplishments on the track.

There was a time when the BTFA along with Bermuda Football Association and Bermuda Cricket Board of Control were considered the Big Three of local sporting organisations.

But while our soccer and cricket administrators have made forward strides -- albeit not without the odd hiccup -- track and field has fallen even deeper into the abyss.

Regardless of what the current executive might say, last week's expulsion of the BUT had little to do with the fact that the BTFA felt the teachers union's aims and objectives failed to meet constitutional requirements -- as argued in their letter to BUT general-secretary Mike Charles.

Instead, it more likely had everything to do with the fact that president Judy Simmons and her current committee felt seriously threatened.

It was an open secret that road running vice-president Steven DeSilva had mounted a challenge to the BTFA leadership which if successful could have resulted in wholesale change.

DeSilva has worked feverishly in recent years to ensure the smooth organisation of road running and was passionate in his belief that so much more could be done for the sport as a whole.

But minus the votes of three BUT representatives and aided by the support of a group known as Dragons who, as far as anyone can determine, have contributed nothing to track and field in the past two years, the BTFA executive realised they could retain control.

The fact that the BUT have been active members of the association for several years, organising road races, cross country events, attending meetings and taking youth squads to meets overseas, seemingly counted for nought.

As it turned out, even with the BUT's votes, president Simmons would likely still have defeated DeSilva. But nobody was taking any chances. It's just a pity the BTFA executives' thirst for power isn't matched by their desire for progress.

Bermuda is blessed with an enormous amount of talent in the schools. Take a look at the hundreds of kids who now compete in triathlon, swimming and cycling, sports whose governing bodies have well structured developmental programmes. Then take a look at the pitiful BTFA programme in which track meets often attract more officials than they do athletes.

What happens during the rest of the year to the schoolkids who turn out in their droves for events such as the Front Street mile trials? Take away triple jumper Brian Wellman, now in the twilight of his career, and Washington-based runner Terrance Armstrong, and the BTFA would be hard pressed to find another athlete of international standard.

Top road runner Kavin Smith prefers to work on his own rather than within any BTFA programme. His father Clarence, another who has contributed so much behind the scenes, was reportedly one of those who voted for change last week.

Alas, the status quo remains. And if the BTFA executive's recent record is any indication, there's little hope for the future.

The fall out from last week's AGM, however, is that the BTFA have lost stalwarts such as Mike Charles, Bob Oliver and DeSilva, and quite likely the voluntary contributions of many more who are sick and tired of seeing the sport suffer through political in-fighting.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON