clubs have taken the initiative to discuss the direction in which Bermuda Cricket Board of Control are taking the sport.

The unprecedented first step was taken last Thursday night at Warwick Workmen's Club -- and another meeting has been scheduled for later this month after the initial gathering had to be adjourned, The Royal Gazette has learned.

It is understood that many top officials from local clubs were invited to attend and the turn-out saw some 13 organisations represented.

They are reportedly concerned that no new blood is coming through, citing the lack of a well-run junior programme.

And they are also worried about a wave of negative publicity aimed at the BCBC administration -- from the way disciplinary matters were handled during the ICC Trophy in Malaysia and the failure of the board to have players tested for drugs prior to leaving home after having earlier vowed to do so.

Additionally, the delay in distributing the Jim Woolridge restructuring report on cricket, which was completed 18 months ago but only recently circulated to clubs, has aroused concern.

Another gripe surrounds the decision by BF&M Insurance to withdraw their sponsorship from the Champion of Champions competition.

Details of what actually transpired during the meeting remain sketchy, but the fact that the clubs decided among themselves to look into issues without consulting the board is significant.

One source told The Royal Gazette that club officials were particularly disturbed that BCBC executive members apparently refused to believe that cricket was losing its appeal.

"The problem is that the overall standard of cricket has been on a steady decline,'' said the source. "There has been no decent junior programme since the Shell Youth Tournament folded more than six years ago and consequently there are few new faces coming into the game to replace the Wendell Smiths, Noel Gibbons etc.

"Recently Jim Woolridge recalled that there was a time when Bermuda could place many senior cricketers in English County sides, but that is not the case now.'' St. George's Cricket Club were invited to attend last week's meeting but president Mansfield Smith said that he was unable to do so because it conflicted with another meeting he had to attend and his secretary was off the Island.

Smith said, however, he personally didn't feel it was a good time to hold such a meeting with the season underway and he would have preferred to have talked with his committee before entering any such talks.

"Everybody knows that cricket is on the decline in Bermuda, but many of the other points (discussed at the meeting) are matters I would need to discuss with my committee before going into discussions outside of the club,'' he said.

Bermudian Lionel Cann continues to do well in Scotland with Arbroath Cricket Club as an all-rounder.

Arbroath beat Brechin by a wicket with Cann scoring 46 not out (four fours) and taking three for 32 off 15 overs. Arbroath then defeated Prestwick by six wickets in 25 overs as Cann scored 63 (six fours and two sixes) and took four for 37 off seven overs. His side then defeated top club Stoney Dyce by 35 runs. Cann scored 26 (two fours) and took one for 48 off 15 overs.