Just when we thought netball in St James had sunk to its lowest level, there are troubling signs that it could sink even further if drastic measures are not taken soon.

On Thursday of last week, the outgoing administration put on a revolutionary forum where the two men who are seeking to take the helm made presentations and then answered questions from the delegates.

Clint Parkins and Egland Richards are seeking to replace Winsome Barnes, who is not seeking re-election to the office.

The idea was revolutionary in that it was the first time any sporting body in the parish had brought presidential candidates to face delegates ahead of the election date.

Perhaps the other sporting bodies should adopt this format in the future when there is an election of officers.

The forum gave a good but at times frightening view of what to expect — something that a manifesto would be unable to do.

Manifestos are a waste of time and paper; nobody reads them and for the most part those who write them ignore them once they get into office.

Another flaw with manifestos is that candidates can always get professional writers to put them together.

But as we saw on Thursday, the devil is in the detail, as both men were at pains to explain some of their own ideas.

If the responses were anything to go by, dark days are ahead for netball in St James, and the petty divisions that have plagued the sport will linger on long into the future.

Neither candidate showed the quality one wants in a leader, especially in a sport that will need radical and no-nonsense leadership if it is to turn around any time soon.

And most importantly, both came up short on matters of the constitution, the same document that will guide their term in office.

Parkins’ idea of selecting his own team once he is elected is not legal. He should have known that before he put himself up for election.

The constitution says clearly that all members of the executive are to be elected by the delegates.

However I agree with him that it is time executives are elected based on their skills rather than who likes them.

If he is to take over as the new president come February 20, he must make a clean break from his club, Angels.

But based on what he said at the forum, he has failed to see the obvious conflict of interest it would present if he’s elected.

Then again, a precedent was set not so long ago when Rita Spence was allowed to play for Crystal while she was the president of the association.

From what I saw on Thursday, Richards lacks the forcefulness and tenacity to be a leader.

On more than one occasion when his ideas or comments were challenged, he failed to rebut or even explain himself, allowing the audience to think that the challenger was in fact correct.

For the sake of the sport, I hope that Barnes reconsiders her decision to step away or that someone of the calibre of Gina Haughton takes up the challenge.