Bermuda Football Association president Neville Tyrrell threw his full support behind his referees' chairman Gregory Grimes who yesterday claimed that the shortage of officials was a chronic problem.

But the president insisted that one solution was to plead with the clubs to encourage their own members to help them out of the rut.

"Yes, it's a chronic problem and we certainly have to keep pleading for people and to the clubs,'' said Tyrrell.

"It would be reasonable to ask them to assist because they have some manpower in their clubs who can probably come out and help, even if they can referee or act as linesman every other weekend, that's all we need because it certainly helps the numbers.'' The president shared the views expressed by Grimes that the success of soccer depended on the games being played as scheduled with the full support of the Bermuda Referees' Association and the clubs.

"I am very concerned. I think people have to understand that the game is not going to progress unless we have sufficient referees,'' said Tyrrell.

"What usually happens is that we get down to the tight part of the season when relegation and promotion is at stake and we only have the few referees available to chose from and people will complain.

"They would criticise a referee but at the same time they have to accept that the referees are human, they will make mistakes just like any of us in our working life will make mistakes, but at the same time there is so few of them and the pressure can be great on them.'' He reckoned that it was vital for the BFA and the clubs to encourage more poeple to help out. Tyrrell added there were courses being held preseason and during the season for anyone to take advantage of.

"I have met people on the street who have said that they would like to come out and help but they are deterred by spectators, and I think that is the biggest deterrent...with the spectators being a lot of their friends, and relatives it's often difficult, it's almost like being a Bermudian policeman which seems to be a job nobody rushes into these days.'' "But I am confident that we will get through the season like we have done any other time, there may be some inconveniences put on teams occasionally and teams have to understand that this will happen. I recognise they are training week in and week out, and if it means that a game has to be postponed because we don't have sufficient officials that will be something the clubs will have to understand.'' He added: "If it's necessary we may have to spread the schedule out during the week, that may be an option for us to take if things don't improve.''