To be fair - Kelly's do put a lot in to the UK 'scene'. They are often represented one way or another in any domestic league/tourney (I've even spotted the odd one playing some woodsball - but we'll not mention that here
).
I think the core of the problem is too many teams - not enough players. I am talking about dedicated players - players who want to train, get fit, learn the 'skills' etc. - not rec-ballers with a machine gun (like me
).
Everyone keeps saying the 'kids' are the way forward - this is all too true. But how many of these kids can afford to play and train often? Most of them are either at college/school or in crappily paid jobs.
Tourney ball is a VERY expensive hobby - one that most teenagers simply can't afford. Most of the people that can afford it are too insular and protective of their own 'game' (this is probably due to the politics Mario was talking about).
The only way to make p'ball progress in the UK is to make it accessable to everyone who wants it - that means cheaper prices, practice fields local (less than 10 miles away), proper safety/supervision etc. etc. To achieve all this takes money. And this money has either got to come from the existing paintballers themselves (unlikely, unless you are related to the 'kid' somehow), parents (unlikely again - same reason as above) or external sponsorship (outside of the paintball industry).
Until then, I can only see UK ball being exactly the same in 10 years time as it is now - and was 10 years ago!
I know there are some trying to change the UK scene with an x-ball variant - but until you have practice fields and cheap kit - only the 'rich' will ever play it.
