Taurean Manders has accepted his Bermuda career could be over after his omission from last year’s World Cup qualifying squad.

Manders believes he still has plenty to offer Bermuda but is not holding his breath for a call-up to head coach Andrew Bascome’s squad for next month’s Caribbean Cup first-round qualifiers.

Bermuda are away to Cuba in their opening game on March 22 before taking on French Guiana in their final round-robin game at the National Stadium on March 26.

“It’s been a bit of a blow, but I’m always open to playing for Bermuda until I’m done playing competitively,” said Manders, who has lived in Hampshire, England, for the past few years.

“I haven’t heard anything about the Caribbean Cup, so I can’t really speak about it.”

The 29-year-old’s fall from grace has been swift considering he wore the captain’s armband when he last featured for Bermuda, a 2-2 draw at home to Grenada in a World Cup qualifying warm-up game in March last year.

He was jettisoned completely from squad for the second friendly two days later and admits he is mystified as to why he has been overlooked by Bascome.

“I’ve got nothing against the guys that got picked [for the World Cup qualifying squad] because there’s some good young players coming through and it’s good for them to get experience,” said the former North Village player.

“Being left out was a bit of a mystery to me, although I admit I was a little out of sorts in the midfield role [Bascome] played me in against Grenada.

“Everyone knows I’m best in the anchor role and I was also playing with about 95 per cent of those players for the first time.

“Although I felt a little off I still think I showed enough. I was then left out of the second friendly altogether, which was a bit strange.”

Manders, a mainstay for Bermuda during the 2011 World Cup qualifying campaign under previous head coach Devarr Boyles, is presently playing for Whitchurch United in the Wessex League Premier Division.

The defensive midfielder enjoyed a spell on loan at Whitchurch last season from league rivals Sholing, although he said work commitments had forced to him to push football down on his list of priorities.

“I’m just playing for the love of the game and not quite as serious as I used to,” said Manders, who previously played professionally for Antigua Barracuda in the United Soccer League.

“It’s still an OK level, but I’ve got to pay the bills somehow so I’ve had to put the football dream behind me, especially after being left out of the World Cup qualifying team.

“I’m still enjoying it and I remain competitive. I still think I could play at a higher level but it wouldn’t be full-time like I used to be, so there wouldn’t be any real financial stability.

“Plus, with all the travelling, training and my work schedule, this is the most convenient situation for me now.”