The Bermuda Football Association Referees Committee has been forced to turn to a crop of young officials as a result of an alarming lack of officials on island.

With dwindling numbers already considered to be at a critical stage, the game on island suffered a further setback ahead of the new campaign with a host of senior officials, including Martin Wyer and Dwight Jackson, stepping away.

As a consequence, a total of seven youngsters will be thrust into the spotlight of senior football this season, with 11-year-old Tayte Browne among those already to have done so, making his debut as an assistant referee.

Despite Crenstant Williams, head of referees for the BFA referees committee, conceding it is not an ideal situation, he is adamant that the young officials are more than prepared to step into the roles.

“It’s a difficult situation. We have had three senior referees who have stopped officiating and another who I believe has gone overseas,” Williams told The Royal Gazette at the association’s congress meeting last week.

“As a result we have been forced to improvise and promote some of the youngsters who have shown promise. I’m a firm believer that if they’re good enough then they are old enough and so we are going to use them.

“In the youth programmes we have 70 to 80 referees, but they are all at different levels and so there is only a certain number of those we can promote.

“The young officials we have already promoted have already officiated at under-23 level and asked if they could step up to do senior games. If they feel comfortable asking that question, I don’t want to kill their enthusiasm or spirit.

“The have trained, done Fifa courses and so are prepared. All I’m asking of people within the game is to please respect these officials.”

While Williams is well aware of the potential risks posed to officials within what can be a tense environment, he has warned that any form of abuse will not be tolerated.

“The parents are on board and so of right now it is about making sure the clubs, coaches, players and spectators respect these youngsters that are out there,” he added.

“As a committee we have agreed that all of our young officials will be paired with experienced referees. That is to ensure that the senior referees are there to protect the younger officials.

“We are not going to put out a full team of young officials, that is not going to happen.

“The match commissioners at the games also have the power to step in if there any issues and so we hope the clubs are understanding and help protect these young officials.

“I think it comes down to communicating to the clubs so that they understand the situation. Yes, they are young, but they have to be respected in their role. That’s the bottom line because we will not tolerate abuse.”

Last season featured a host of referees from the Caribbean region flown in to combat a lack of match officials on the island, resulting in a total cost of about $100,000.

Although a budget is in place for the possibility of overseas officials again being used, Williams has warned that rising costs and a lack of availability until later into the season means it may not be as viable an option as last season.

“Because of a lack of direct flights from places like Miami, the cost of flights and then having to offer accommodation has gone through the roof,” said Williams, who offered up a potential solution from on island.

“Due to other competitions and commitments in Concacaf, some of those referees are not available until after November and so we have to find other solutions.

“In an ideal world any association would rather see the money spent last season being spent in other areas of the game, but that’s the situation.

“We have 19 clubs and so perhaps if each sent me two people to train as officials, that would solve the issue right there and give them an insight. Hopefully they will now realise how serious a situation we are in.”