ultimatum, if any, he had given members of the senior Bermuda national squad who failed to turn up for training.

After meeting them on Monday night, he said: "Let's just say that we held a meeting and leave it there -- the rest is internal.'' Best called the meeting to discuss their apathy towards training after well under half of the squad of 23 turned out for Saturday's session at Warwick Academy.

It was reportedly the team's third scheduled session in preparation for the incoming tour by Puerto Rico who arrive in Bermuda on December 17 for a four-game tour. Matches against the national squad on December 19 and a Bermuda Under-23 Select on December 23 are the main features of the visit.

And it has left the BFA in an embarrassing position with precious little time left before the game -- a vital tie against opponents who, like Bermuda, will be participating in April's Shell Cup tournament in the Cayman Islands.

On Sunday, Best and Aldwyn Savery, chairman of the coaching committee, hinted that they might take various steps to straighten out the matter at Monday's meeting.

But yesterday nobody was saying much -- even Savery refusing to make any further comment.

And general secretary David Sabir was unwilling to talk about the problem.

"I certainly have nothing to say about that, nothing at all,'' said Sabir.