Hogges to switch to PDL? An announcement is expected to be made soon of Bermuda Hogges resignation from the 3rd tier of American's soccer league the USL 2 and that they will instead join the US Premier Development League (PDL) which is an amateur set up for players under 23, although the rules do allow for some players older. This would be a much better move in my mind for the Hogges and will allow Bermuda's younger players to thrive in what is a competitive and well organised shop window for the MLS and teams in Europe.

As I discussed last week the USL is a ramshackle collection of professional local sides, now severely dented by the ego's of men who think a splinter league (the NASL) is a better place to show their talents to each other and a few hundred fans each week. The Hogges fitted very nicely into the USL and successfully managed to come bottom, 2nd from bottom and bottom in the last 3 seasons.

However football men with the ability and passion of Kyle Lightbourne and Shaun Goater and part owner and club secretary Paul Scope's hard work and money deserved better and with the support of the Bermudian Football Association and importantly better desire from the countries best young players the PDL should turn out to be a much better option if the country is to have any success in the Olympics, Pan Am Games, the CONCACAF Gold Cup and even World Cup qualification.

The PDL is a showcase for the best young talent coming out of schools in North America and both Jonathan Spector and Watford captain Jay DeMerit both served their apprenticeship in the league before moving to England. 68 teams are split into 8 divisions and include a number of MLS' youth teams such as the Chicago Fire. Games are regularly shown on the Fox Soccer Channel and somehow watching youth football is far more enjoyable than the old has beens or never has been of the USL. I hope the Hogges make the switch.  ¶ 15:00