HAMILTON, Bermuda CMC – Former interim national coach Devarr Boyles is the biggest casualty among staff redundancies forced on the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) because of budget cuts, the Royal Gazette said yesterday. The BFA has not yet revealed the identity of those losing their jobs, but an insider told the Gazette, speaking on condition of anonymity that the jobs of youth director Boyles, financial controller Gideon Kigotho and Programme Development Coordinator Ian Rawlins have been made redundant as of May 31.
Boyles stepped down late last year as Bermuda’s interim head coach after an encouraging but unsuccessful World Cup campaign.
Boyles, who took charge of the national team before the World Cup qualifiers because other coaches were unavailable, led Bermuda to victory in three of their six CONCACAF Group B matches.
Guyana progressed after edging out Trinidad and Tobago for the top spot and Bermuda have not had a permanent national coach since Kenny Thompson left in 2008.
The BFA has completed interviewing and assessing the only three applicants to be considered for the role are believed to be former national team players Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and Andrew Bascome. The post will be part-time, the BFA said recently.
BFA president Larry Mussenden said in a press release issued on Sunday the Association was forced to cut jobs because it could no longer “support the current staffing levels” at their Hamilton headquarters.
“Several years ago the Bermuda government awarded the BFA a grant amounting to US$3 million per year for a period of five years which enabled the Association to expand its operation both in terms of infrastructure and personnel,” Mussenden said.
“Unfortunately, that amount has not been realised and as such, the government grant funding was reduced significantly since 2009 to a level for the upcoming year that can no longer support the current employee levels within the Association.
“During recent meetings, the BFA’s executive council members discussed the current financial status of the Association and the impact it is having on the operation of the Association at present and over the next year and beyond.”
Mussenden said that after “full consultation and examination of all the options” the BFA’s executive council had to take the “regrettable step” of making some employee positions redundant as of May 31.
Mussenden said the BFA had now begun the process of restructuring and realigning all job functions with their remaining staff as well as the executive council members.
“There will be some challenges as we readjust programmes, goals and objectives with the current level of government funding and other resources available to football,” he added. “We remain steadfast in our resolve to do all we can for the good of the game.”