Allan Douglas said that it is all about “managing the strategy, expectations and goals” of Arnold Manders, the Bermuda coach, when he leads the team to Malaysia for the Pepsi ICC Division Three Tournament.

Douglas was appointed as temporary head coach after Manders had to withdraw having contracted pneumonia for the second time in six months.

Douglas said that his main priority was carrying on the work already done by Manders.

“We talk a lot, me as director of coaching and him as head coach, so it’s not a major transition,” said Douglas ahead of the team’s departure tonight for Dubai for four days of training before the tournament starts next week.

“I’ll just basically look to manage what he’s put in place. There’s nothing for me to change, just to manage the expectations that he has put on the team, then manage their individual goals and performances.

“He and I will talk constantly which will be fantastic.

“The talk from the players, from what I’m getting from the coaching staff, Arnold and Lorenzo Tucker, is that they certainly believe they have a very good chance of making it to the next level. I think we have a chance of getting through as long as they have that confidence.

“They did say it hinges on how they get through the first two matches.”

Bermuda face the United States, who are likely to hand a debut to Jermaine Lawson, the former West Indies fast bowler, on October 23 before playing another group favourite, Uganda, the next day.

“Quicks are not a problem, that’s what we like and he’ll probably be expensive,” Douglas said.

“Spin has been our Achilles’ heel for many years, even when I was coming along. I’m not concerned about Lawson.

“The good thing is we have four days in Dubai and it will be non-stop hard work there. It will be a good training camp. We’ll have the whole team together and we’ll do a lot of work there.”

The squad will be joined by England based players Terryn Fray, Tre Manders, Christian Burgess and Delray Rawlins. Douglas believes the youthful foursome can have a big impact in Malaysia.

“I’m really excited to look at Terryn Fray who I think is going to be a gem out there, along with Tre Manders,” Douglas said.

“They excite me and I think at the next level they are going to be exciting players for this country. I hope they reveal themselves and I’m looking forward to that.”

Fray and Manders are sons of former cricketers Terry Fray and Andre Manders and a lot like their fathers, Douglas said.

“Terry was a slow starter but his son is taking that to a new level, with finesse and patience. “Doc” was a fantastic, steady accumulator of runs who I played against in Cup Match.

“His son, again, is very much in the same mould, both like their fathers,” said Douglas.

“It’s nice to have Del Hollis there, the old, seasoned fella, and hopefully his experience will come through. Then we’ve got Delray who is really good and I watched him in Guyana [with the ICC Americas team] and he was the pick of all the bowlers, including the Caribbean teams.

“We’re going to have to use him in a special way in order to get wickets.”

Douglas has his own son, Allan Jr, in the team and he, too, looks a bit like his “old man” with his dashing strokeplay to go with his spin bowling and lively fielding. He will be looking to establish himself at the international level.

“I think we’ve got some really good boys coming through,” Douglas said. “Allan can give you a lot of energy in the field and a lot of excitement with the bat once he’s on. And he can also spin.

“He’s an integral part of the team, from listening to what the players say.

“We do have a good combination and if we play to our potential and the middle order clicks I think we will do very well.”

Bermuda will compete against the US, Nepal, Uganda, Malaysia and Singapore with the top two teams gaining promotion to Division Two.