Kim Richards left last night’s Bermuda Football Association Congress at Devonshire Recreation Club as the association’s new treasurer after being voted in to replace James Davis, who opted not to seek re-election.

Richards, the vice-president at Devonshire Rec, was nominated by her president, Nadine Henry, and approved by the other club representatives present. However, it almost did not happen after president Mark Wade made a proposal that the position be left vacant until the semi-annual meeting so that three persons who had shown interest could do so once they learnt that Davis was not seeking re-election.

“What we have is a proposal for you, that you allow the position of treasurer to remain vacant to the semi-annual,” Wade said to the members. “That would give us the opportunity to interview and meet with three candidates who are interested in becoming treasurer.

“We weren’t able to get that process done in the time frame once we found that James was not going to seek re-election. In terms of covering the treasurer’s position, Vance Campbell, who sits on the finance committee with James, will cover the duties of treasurer with the assistance of James when he is available,”

Richard Todd, president of the Bermuda Football Coaches Association, challenged that proposal, asking if the three candidates had been officially nominated by club affiliates.

“No, not at this time,” the president replied. “We’re saying we would delay the election to the semi-annual and at that time there would be nominations.”

“So do you have three candidates in mind or will you wait to receive nominations and then identify the three candidates?” Todd asked.

“Both, we have three persons who once they found out that James was not running for re-election, they indicated they were interested in becoming treasurer,” the president responded.

David Sabir, general secretary of the BFA, interjected: “The process of nominations that is contained in the constitution of the BFA will be followed. So what that means is that the association will send to all the clubs the process for nominations, as we have done for this annual general meeting in accordance with the semi-annual general meeting.”

Sabir emphasised that all three would have to be nominated by the affiliates “in accordance with the constitutional requirements prior to the semi-annual meeting”.

Henry asked that nominations for the post be accepted from the floor and immediately nominated Richards, who she said had been doing an outstanding job as treasurer of Devonshire Rec and now as vice-president the past year. She qualified as a certified management accountant in 2003 and worked at the Bermuda Monetary Authority before moving to the Accountant-General’s department in 2005.

“For the last five years I’ve been an assistant tax commissioner and I’m also responsible for reporting the finances for the Office of the Tax Commissioner,” she replied when asked of her qualifications by one club president.

Other nominations were sought from the floor before Richards was accepted to the position by a unanimous vote. “I didn’t expect to be the only nomination, but, yes, I’m ready for the challenge,” Richards told The Royal Gazette afterwards.

“She [Henry] had a discussion with me and said we need to have somebody on the [BFA] executive. It’s time for Devonshire Rec to be represented at the BFA. I’m built for it.”

Richards pointed out that the Devonshire Rec executive is entirely female. “But we have four men on the committee of management and we are seeking men to come and take up the roles,” she added.

“We do see the need for males to be seen in leadership, but at this time the executive is completely female. This is my first year as vice-president; I’d been treasurer for three years prior.”

Shannon Burgess ran unopposed for the post of first vice-president, while the nine executive members were also returned — Shaquita Parson, Stuart Crockwell, Manny Faria and Vance Campbell for a two-year term, and Troy Brimmer, Anthony Francis, Antoine Augustus, Troy Lewis and Charryse Bean for four years.

“Thank you for your support,” Burgess told the club representatives. “I get the chance to speak to most of you and I continue to look forward to having conversations.

“Despite the criticism that we do get, we are here to support the clubs. So it is important for us to have open communication channels so that we can determine whether or not there are things that we need to reposition to make your lives easier. I look forward to serving you for another four years.”