The search for Troy Douglas’s replacement as head coach of the Bermuda National Athletics Association is under way with an appointment expected in the new few weeks.

Douglas, who has backed DeVon Bean, the Bermuda sprint coach, as his successor, has returned to Holland where he previously coached for the Netherlands Athletics Federation from 2006 to 2012.

Donna Raynor, the BNAA president, was instrumental in bringing Douglas back home from Holland soon after the London Olympics in 2012, and said she knew prior to leaving for the Rio Games that Douglas would be stepping down. A new-part-time director of athletics position will be created, Raynor said, and will be supported by five event coaches.

She admits a lack of BNAA funding was a factor in Douglas’s decision to head back to Holland.

“We sat down to look at finances and to see how we were going to move forward,” Raynor said.

“Troy and I had a discussion, he knew the financial state we were in and I guess he made our job easier because before I left for Rio he told me that he had a job offer in the Netherlands and that he was going to take it.

“I told him I was happy for him and that I understood [his decision] because of the situation that we are in.

“I brought Troy back here after we saw each other in Berlin [at the 2009 World Championships] and I teased him, telling him he needed to take off the orange and blue and put on red and blue.

“We then had a serious conversation in Daegu [South Korea] at the World Championships [in 2011]. I came back and talked to the board and we put up a proposal. We had three people apply for the job.”

It is understood Douglas, a four-times Olympic sprinter, was not interested in continuing his role on a part-time basis when his contract ending after the Rio Olympics. He has returned to Holland to work in a school athletics programme.

“For Troy this was a full-time job so we couldn’t say we’ll offer you something part-time,” Raynor said.

“It was tough on us because we didn’t get that much of a grant this year. What we’re looking at is having that position but only part-time.”

Bean, who served as the athletics coach for Bermuda at the Rio Games is believed to be one of the favourites for the post.

“We have a couple of people in mind and we had a board meeting last night and talked about it,” Raynor said.

“My goal is to not look outside of Bermuda. We only have eight or nine coaches so we don’t have a whole lot of people to choose from who meet the requirements.

“Within the next week or so we will make an announcement. We’re looking for this person and the structure to be in place by October 1, that’s our goal, to have the director of athletics and the five events coaches all signed by October 1.”

Raynor and the athletics fraternity are still coming to terms with the death of Philip Guishard, the former Bermuda Track and Field Association president and Bermuda Olympic Association administration. He died this week after an illness at the age of 74.

“It happened so quickly and I know he was looking forward to Rio,” Raynor said. “Mr Guishard got me involved as chef de mission for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico [in 2011]. We met and he said: ‘Donna, I really want you to do it’. When I was the chef he guided me and mentored me through.

“He was president of the BTFA and I had tons of discussions with Mr Guishard if there was something I wasn’t sure about.

“I relied a heck of a lot on Mr Guishard. He was my sounding board in London [at the Olympics]. We were together at the Carifta Games in March [in Grenada].

“One thing I can say about him is that he lived his life and travelled the world. He was a good source of information and I used him for that on a regular basis.

“Michelle Williams [the former BNAA vice-president] and I went down to the hospital to see him.

“He will truly be missed, I miss him already. From the BOA standpoint it’s a huge loss.”