Maurice Lowe, assistant national coach during Bermuda’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign, has been appointed to the post of Technical Development Director with the Bermuda Football Association.

The BFA made the announcement yesterday, and Lowe confirmed that he stood down as technical director at Southampton Rangers prior to the appointment. Lowe has held coaching positions in various clubs, including Somerset Bridge, Dandy Town, BAA and, for the past two years, as coach of Southampton Rangers.

In 2014 Lowe achieved his UEFA ‘A’ licence at St George’s Park, in England and has been a staff coach with the Bermuda Football Association.

“The TDD post is a part-time one that will be complemented by an assistant to ensure the strategic plan objectives are achieved,” said the BFA. “In the coming months Maurice will familiarise himself with the BFA strategic plan and prioritise objectives.

“Immediate goals for the TDD are to establish the national programme curriculum and syllabus as well as assist our full member clubs in implementing the same. We are delighted to have Maurice join the technical and administrative team.”

Lowe’s role will be different to that of National Academy Director, held by Richard Todd before he stood down in April. It will be a one-year contract initially.

“It is a new position, a new structure that we’re implementing and we’re really happy to have Maurice on board with us,” said Mark Wade, the BFA vice president.

“W’re excited about what the future holds, having established a point person for technical development in Bermuda. The position is a part-time position and doesn’t have the total portfolio under one person as you would expect if this was full time.

“Richard’s position was essentially managing the national programme, which is one single part of technical development, which is more encompassing of assisting our clubs and developing other programmes such as coaching education, beach soccer and Futsal.”

Lowe, an IT professional, is looking forward to the appointment as it also comes at a time when the BFA is settling into new offices in Prospect, the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence which includes a training pitch.

“It entails some of the responsibilities that Richard had, with an assistant as well, so it is not entirely up to me to achieve the goals of the Technical Development Director position,” said Lowe.

“I want to familiarise myself with the strategic plan of the association and to put together a curriculum and syllabus so that we can distribute that among the national academy staff coaches as well as the affiliate clubs.

“I’m no longer the coach of Southampton Rangers, as a result of this position I have stepped down as technical director of Southampton Rangers Sports Club. I speak fondly of my time there, it is still my community so I will still be in and around the club helping out as much as I can while recognising that I have a new position that I will dedicate my time and energies towards.

“To avoid a conflict of interest, I cannot be attached to an affiliate club. My contract as the assistant coach for the senior men’s team was for the World Cup qualifying campaign, which has ended, but I had a very good working relationship with the national coach Andrew Bascome and enjoyed our time together so I look forward to continue working with him in the future.”

Meanwhile, on the eve of today’s player transfer deadline for the 2015-16 season, there is talk that two other Premier Division clubs could have new coaches next season following the news that Danvers Seymour Jr is stepping down as coach of Somerset Trojans just months after leading the club to their first league title in 22 years.

“I’m not confirming anything, call the club,” Seymour said when contacted yesterday.

And the man who is rumoured to replace him, Hamilton Parish’s Kieshon Smith, was also tight-lipped. “Call the club,” was his only response to a phone enquiry.