Assistant appointed by the middle of next month.

The position, which has become available after Joe Brown was fired on January 19, is currently being advertised at a salary of $42,000 and the deadline for applications is April 16.

BFA president Charlie Marshall said yesterday that he would like to see the new person take over the job shortly after being appointed.

"I would certainly like to see the individual in place by the early part of next month, or by the second week of the month. There is a lot of pre-season organisation work that has to be done so it is important that the position is filled as soon as possible,'' said Marshall.

The procedure to fill what has become the hot seat of soccer will see the applicants being interviewed by a committee consisting of one of the BFA's First Vice Presidents, a Director and a member of the club's representatives.

"A small committee will be selected to fulfill the responsibility of interviewing the applicants,'' said the president.

In their advertisement the BFA are seeking a professional who either holds a "bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business Administration or in a similar discipline; or, a minimum of five years experience in an administrative or managerial position.'' Marshall also voiced his concern about the problems soccer is experiencing when fans find ways to watch matches from surrounding vantage points instead of paying the normal admission. The matter has obviously come to light with Sunday's FA Cup final in mind.

He is particularly concerned about how many people continue to watch matches on the northern hill at National Stadium and indicated that the problem is one that has to be straightened up if soccer is to continue to prosper.

"It's not just the situation at the stadium that concerns us, it occurs at other club grounds as well. The gate receipts do not reflect the number of people who are attending and the situation has to be addressed by everybody,'' said Marshall.

"Soccer will deteriorate if people don't pay because the money from gate receipts is needed to help to train our young players, the club needs it to help maintain and upgrade their facilities and it is needed in general to help us to put programmes together,'' he conceded.