Andrew Bascome has decided against stepping down as Bermuda coach and will lead the team against Canada in a friendly match at the National Stadium next month.

A frustrated Bascome said he would be quitting his post after Bermuda were eliminated from the Scotiabank Caribbean Cup after losing a second-round match 3-0 to French Guiana in Cayenne in June.

It is understood that Bascome reconsidered his position after talks with Maurice Lowe, the Bermuda Football Association technical development director, although it is unknown whether he has committed himself for the next cycle of World Cup qualifying and Caribbean Cup tournaments. Bermuda take on Canada on January 22.

Mark Wade, the BFA president, said he has long been an admirer of Bascome’s coaching qualities and is delighted that he has decided to continue.

“Maurice had some conversations with Andrew immediately when he returned from French Guiana and those discussions were obviously productive and Andrew has decided he will continue,” said Wade, who replaced Larry Mussenden as president in September.

“The story itself was garnered from Andrew while he was still abroad and he expressed some frustrations then.

“We’re just happy that Maurice has been able to deal with it very quickly.

“I’ve always been an admirer of Andrew, both as a player and a coach, and I think he brings the right approach to what we’re trying to accomplish.

“Hopefully we can build on the successes that we did have and get ourselves geared and ready for 2018 when we should be playing in the Caribbean Cup.”

Bascome informed the The Royal Gazette of his decision to quit soon after his team’s disappointing loss to French Guiana — a rearranged match after the first game between the two sides was abandoned because of torrential rain, with Bermuda leading 1-0.

Bascome said it was time for a “younger man” to take charge and to prepare the team for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

“It’s time for someone else now,” Bascome said in June. “I was brought in four years ago to prepare the team for this competition and I’m satisfied that I’ve done my best.

“It’s been a great experience, I’ve travelled to countries I never thought I would see, and I’m grateful to the BFA for giving me that opportunity.”

Another factor behind Bascome’s initial decision to relinquish his coaching duties was his growing annoyance at being detained at US Customs and Border Protection whenever he leaves the island.

Bascome has to obtain a waiver to travel to the United States after being charged with possession of a small amount of cannabis about 20 years ago.

“The travelling has become very difficult for me, as I get pulled over by customs every time I leave the island,” Bascome said.

Bermuda’s match against Canada could signal a new dawn for the national team programme, with the island’s under-20 side competing in the Concacaf Championship in Costa Rica in February. Kyle Lightbourne’s team have been pitted against the host country, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago in group C.

Wade hinted that the Canada match could serve as exposure for some of the under-20 players before the Concacaf Championship — a competition Bermuda qualified for after finishing runners-up in their group at the Caribbean Football Union Championship in Curaçao in October.

“I don’t want to speak out of turn but we may see some of the under-20 players getting some senior experience,” he said.

“There are youngsters out there who have had a taste of international football at the senior level and are still hungry for it.

“We’re looking forward to the match against Canada; it’s something that has been in the works for a long time.

“For one reason or another it hasn’t come off in previous years, but there’s always been a desire for us to play Canada.

“Their schedule is very tight, the MLS season is over and they will be having a training camp and will pop over to Bermuda for the match and go back to the camp.

“Some of their players will want some time off before they go back into MLS pre-season, which will be in February.

“We were only able get the one match, but it will be an invaluable experience for all of our players.”