Clyde Best and his technical staff should have taken full responsibility for the failure to secure the services of English-based professionals Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne for this year's World Cup matches against Antigua, according to BFA boss Neville Tyrrell.

A public outcry over the non-appearance of the two pros followed Bermuda's elimination from the competition on the away goals rule when they managed only a 1-1 draw at home after a 0-0 stalemate in Antigua.

But Tyrrell insisted yesterday he and his executive committee should not shoulder the blame.

"I, as president of the BFA, am not in the position to pick national teams.

That's why we have a technical staff,'' he said. "Our role is to vet who comes into the national programme.

"We, the executive, don't pick the national team. Our role is to facilitate, not make decisions. It was never an executive decision not to bring home the pros, it was a technical decision. We were guided by Mr. Best and his staff.

"One of the things I have been accused of is not supporting the technical staff in getting the pros back. That is totally untrue.'' Matters, however, came to a head at a meeting back in Bermuda immediately following the first leg in Antigua. "When we drew in Antigua, the technical staff realised we would need the professionals for the return leg, and we arranged to meet them as soon as they got back,'' recalled Tyrrell.

"Every language in the book was used. Everybody was pointing fingers. But it was too late. We only had a week between games and according to FIFA rules you must give clubs two weeks' notice. Man City were not about to release Goater because they didn't have to, the same with Stoke and Lightbourne. The rest is history.

"But let me say prior to that meeting there was a statement made by the technical director to the effect `if Shaun doesn't want to come back, we'll use local players'.'' Tyrrell said Best was well aware that Goater had written a letter to the BFA emphasising his reluctance to return during City's promotion drive.

It was at this same meeting, said Tyrrell, that despite heated words, an agreement was made that the matter be closed and that neither party air their grievances in public.

"But for the second time, a gentlemen's agreement was not honoured,'' lamented Tyrrell. "I kept seeing little tidbits in the paper.'' Meanwhile, the BFA president yesterday defended his decision to remove Best from the position of technical director just prior to the start of both the World Cup and Olympic qualifying campaigns.

"People said the timing of our announcement about Best was wrong. But the BFA did have a plan,'' said Tyrrell. "I'm not going to go into details of that plan because that would expose some further people. But we had a plan to take us through the World Cup and Mr. Best was still in the picture. But we didn't want him as technical director.'' Tyrrell said he had paid Best a favour by informing him three months in advance that his contract would not be renewed, thereby giving him time to make alternative plans.

"Prior to that meeting (December 22), I had no ill feelings towards Mr. Best.

I didn't realise there was anything between us. I had met with him and talked about football-related matters on many occasions.'' However, at the meeting Best, who had arrived with close friend Leroy (Nibs) Lewis who was asked to leave the room, left abruptly when told of the executive's decision.

Clyde Best: It was his responsibility to secure the services of Bermuda's professional players and not that of the BFA executive committee, insists Tyrrell.