At least that's what Bermuda Football Association is hoping after they yesterday applied the finishing touches to a new administration with the announcement of five directors to act as "overseers'' to current management.

The hope is that the group will help restore integrity, while aiding development of soccer following a dark period of inactivity on the international front and the now infamous Miami Seven episode.

Among the quintet are educator Earl Hart, Colonial Insurance president Alan Peacock, lawyer Larry Mussenden, Shell Group of Companies chief executive Robert Stewart, and Darren Johnston, a partner with accounting firm Cooper and Lines.

A mid-day press conference yesterday saw Sir John Sharpe, chairman of the BFA's nomination committee. Three of the five were appointed by the nomination committee and two by the executive committee.

Sharpe noted the appointments completed the implementation of recommendations made in the recent report by the Commission of Inquiry into the sport of soccer.

"This one, on the question of Directors, was, at least in part, a response to the problems identified in successive reports relating to football in Bermuda, namely that there was a shortage of managerial resources available to the clubs (affiliates of the BFA) and hence by extension to the BFA,'' said Sharpe in a prepared statement.

"These five persons all have a deep conviction about the importance of football to Bermuda, and collectively in one way or the other have a long interest in sport in general and football in particular.'' One of the immediate areas to be addressed will be fund-raising, with the view towards having Bermuda take part in more international competitions both on the junior and senior levels, an area lacking in recent years.

And, with their business acumen, it is expected that the directors will play a great role in securing sponsorship for such ventures.

However, new BFA president Neville Tyrrell rejected the notion that the move to include businessmen in the equation was a desperate one and that the BFA were `selling out' to sponsors.

"I don't believe that is the case at all. I believe the gentlemen behind me come to help,'' he said. "The fact that they may represent the "suits'' or Front Street crowd may be good for us if we can get that marriage.

"I don't believe they have come to take over. During the initial stages, when Sir John's committee may have mentioned it, there were fears, but I think those have been put to rest.'' And Sharpe insisted that the directors were only there to help and held no voting power as far as effecting policy.

"I'd like to make it clear that the BFA affiliates still elect the four officers and nine others that actually run the Association. These gentlemen -- directors -- have no vote at the meetings but their input will be invaluable and I'm sure it will be welcomed.'' NEW FACES -- Bermuda Football Association's newly-appointed directors (back row, from left) Earl Hart, Alan Peacock, Larry Mussenden and Bob Stewart met yesterday with BFA president Neville Tyrrell (front left) and chairman of the nominations committee, Sir John Sharpe. Missing is director Darren Johnston.