Kyle Lightbourne has launched a passionate attack on Bermuda's football fans labelling them couch potatoes who would rather watch games on TV than support Bermuda Hogges.

The beleaguered boss slammed his detractors who criticise his coaching ability but never turn up to Hogges matches – and claimed he was doing his best in a 'second rate football nation'.

In an attempt to silence the whingers Lightbourne made the point that at least he and fellow Hogges' chiefs Shaun Goater and Paul Scope were trying to do something positive for football on the Island.

One of the lowest ever Hogges attendances witnessed their dismal defeat against Pittsburgh Riverhounds at the National Sports Centre (NSC) on Thursday night, which left Lightbourne's team marooned at the foot of the league table.

And Lightbourne doubts that without the backing of the Bermuda public Hogges will struggle to ever evolve from basement dwellers into a respected semi-professional force.

"I know people like to criticise myself, Shaun (Goater) and Paul (Scope) but I don't see them putting their hands into their own pockets to try and improve Bermuda football," said the former Coventry City striker. "Yet it's all to easy to criticise us when results aren't going well.

"Bermudians love to say that we are a football-loving nation and yet I look up at the stands and I don't see many faces," said Lightbourne.

"We're thankful to those paying supporters who come week-in, week-out, but there aren't many of them.

"I hear people say 'why do I want to watch second rate football', but guess what? Bermuda is a second rate football nation and have never exactly set the world alight.

"These Hogges players are the best we've got and they need your support. I feel like a lot of the people who criticise us would rather just stay at home and watch the big teams on TV instead."

Rumours have circulated that Hogges' hierarchy may decide to cut their losses and disband the club at the end of the season but Lightbourne, who along with Goater and Scope pumps his own cash into the franchise, has moved to dampen such speculation.

He openly admits Hogges' results have been far from good enough but reckons that in three seasons they have done more to raise the level of Bermuda football than years of domestic football ever could.

"I don't want to get into whether Hogges will continue, but I can say we're certainly not looking to finish or anything. We've all put so much time and effort into this and of course I go home at times and it's tough," Lightbourne said, who was voted the Premier Division's coach of the year for 2007-8.

"The Hogges are an experimental project to try and improve the standard of local football and while results suggest otherwise I think there has been positives to come out of it.

"Individually I believe some of our players have improved no end by playing in this league. You only have to look at the progress players like Darius Cox and Jared Peniston have made over the last two and half years. In that respect the Hogges are a worthwhile project."

Hogges take on Riverhounds at the NSC tonight at 8 p.m.