were quick to get in touch with the Bermuda Football Association in the hopes of having top scorer Shawn Goater rejoin them immediately.

But the association has stood firm on the agreement that calls for the 22-year-old striker to be with the national team until the final match with Canada on December 6.

A meeting yesterday with Goater confirmed their position as Goater was told of the club's desire to have him return for this weekend's match with second-placed Bradford City and then rejoin the Bermuda team the following week.

"Bermuda still wants me to play in the final game and if I go out there (to Rotherham) I'll only be there for 10 days before I come back for this last game,'' Goater explained yesterday.

Rotherham manager Phil Henson faxed a letter to the BFA after the loss to Canada to enquire about Goater's availability. "We reached an agreement to have Shawn until December 7 but now that we're eliminated they want to know if he can return early,'' explained BFA administrative assistant Joe L. Brown.

"They want him for an FA Cup game on December 5 but we still want to field our strongest possible team. We need him for the World Cup match on the sixth and that has already been agreed.

"We've not given up our responsibility of fielding our strongest possible team. That's vital, and is important to the integrity of our football that we're not giving up.'' Goater admits that with Rotherham playing well in his absence it is not likely he will walk right back into the team. "The gaffer is not going to put me back in knowing that I'm leaving again the next weekend,'' said Goater. "They want me back as soon as possible to get back into the groove of things. In all regards he's (Henson) heard about the goals I've been scoring.'' Dandy Town have distanced themselves from coach Robert Calderon's scathing attack on the BFA in Saturday's The Royal Gazette over its decision not to allow the World Cup players to return to their local clubs before the final match with Canada.

"We were totally surprised by his remarks and don't condone the views expressed by Mr. Calderon,'' said secretary Mike Jones last night. "We haven't had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Calderon about those views though we will meet with him in due course.'' The club has also taken disciplinary action against defender Troy Durham for his conduct after being sent off in the recent match against PHC.

SHAWN GOATER.