St. John's Field and a series of problems at other venues, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

And Bermuda Football Association committee member and former referee Gregory Grimes has quit because nothing has been done to improve the St. John's Field situation despite previous complaints.

Bermuda Football Referees Association vice-president Lyndon Raynor wouldn't disclose his association's main concerns, but he confirmed that an official complaint had been lodged with the BFA.

For several months referees have privately criticised the lights at St. John's Field, complaining they were too low and subsequently causing a glare which restricted visibility.

The matter was reportedly brought to a head during a meeting between the BFA and BRA over a week ago when a Dudley Eve match was staged there. However, despite the resignation of the long-serving Grimes, a former BFA director, Raynor said the exchange between the two bodies "was not heated'' and further meetings were planned.

"All I can say is that there are a number of concerns we have about St.

John's and a few other fields and they are all priority concerns. And we expect them sorted out by the end of next season at least,'' said Raynor.

The BFA refused to comment on the controversy, General Secretary David Sabir insisting that it was always their desire to help clubs improve their facilities wherever possible.

He noted that the BFA's restructuring plan, presented to clubs early in the season, proposed ways to have facilities upgraded and said it remained an aim of the BFA to continue to work towards that goal.

"Yes, we've spoken of the need to upgrade the facilities... in upgrading them we are talking about the surfaces, the amenities in the clubhouse and also the state of the lighting systems. Most or all of our clubs have some needs for repair or an upgrade of their current facilities and we want to do all we can to assist them,'' said Sabir.

"All of these things are coming into play as we move forward to make progress in football. It is important for us to realise that all of our clubs are providing avenues for recreational and soccer usage. We recognise that all of them are multi sports grounds where a number of activities are taking place throughout the year. We also recognise that the facilities do get a lot of usage so we have to try and find a way to ensure that any capital expenditure put into the clubs is meaningful and long lasting.'' Sabir added that the BFA were looking at the broader picture of upgrading club facilities and concentrating on how they could achieve various goals at a modest cost.

These are among various topics that the BFA intend to discuss with new Sports Minister Dennis Lister.

But he noted that in many cases the clubs would have to spearhead fund-raising endeavours themselves although both the BFA and Government would need to play vital supporting roles.

"A lot has to be looked at once we determine how best to direct resources into improving facilities. But the main thing is that we intend to continue a dialogue and converse with our affiliates in terms of planning as a group where it will suit the football needs Island-wide.'' League action resumes tomorrow night after the holiday break with a First Division match at Devonshire Rec. (8.00).

Relegation threatened Devonshire Cougars will be looking for three valuable points to continue their climb out of the bottom three against a Southampton Rangers side that suffered a loss of form during the later stages of the first half.

Rangers, too, will be hoping for a change of fortunes when the second half begins, as they are still not clear of the relegation zone.

Rangers are in mid-table with 13 points while Cougars are eighth, five points behind. A victory for Cougars would put them level on 11 points with Somerset Trojans and open the gap between themselves and Boulevard in ninth place.

Three teams will be relegated at the end of the season.

PHC were to play Somerset Eagles in the 7.00 opener but the Bermuda Football Association announced yesterday that that match had been put back to Sunday at White Hill field.

The Zebras hold down top spot in the Second Division and will look to continue their push for a quick return to the top flight by clinching the only promotion spot. They presently lead second-placed St. David's by four points.