Burkhard Ziese, removed from his job as Technical Director of Coaching by the Bermuda Football Association more than a week ago, may not be on the unemployment line for long.

CONCACAF president Jack Warner yesterday reaffirmed his intention to "use my office to try and place Mr. Ziese in another job.'' Warner -- who asked the former Technical Director to submit a full report on the alleged drug use on the Under-23 team after seven Bermuda players were arrested in Miami -- has been seen as a formidable ally of Ziese since the scandal began unfolding last month.

When Warner made public the controversial memos Ziese wrote to the BFA and then the report he submitted to CONCACAF, he lauded the German for his "honest disclosure...please be consoled that there should never be a substitute for the truth.'' With two years remaining in his three-year contract, Ziese was notified on January 9 -- exactly a month after the players were arrested -- that his days with the BFA were over.

Since his abrupt dismissal, Ziese has enlisted the help of well-known Bermuda lawyer Allan Dunch, a senior litigation partner with Appleby, Spurling and Kempe, who was expected to commence formal proceedings yesterday in the Supreme Court, holding the BFA in breach of contract.

"We will be looking to have him compensated for everything he would have been entitled to and would have received if his contract had continued,'' said Dunch yesterday.

Dunch said he had learned that the BFA had retained the services of John Riihiluoma, an attorney with Cox and Wilkinson, although he had yet to receive any formal response from the BFA.

"Essentially I've put the (BFA) on notice that I believe their termination of (Ziese's) agreement was a breach of contract. As a result of the breach Ziese has suffered substantial damages, including obviously the loss of two years revenue under the contract. Their (BFA) failure to compensate him for those damages thus far leaves us with no alternative but to commence formal proceedings for breach of contract.

"I have instructions from Mr. Ziese to do exactly that.'' The BFA have yet to make a formal announcement that Ziese was let go, maintaining a stubborn silence on most matters since early December that would make a spy agency proud.

Warner, contacted from his office in Trinidad yesterday, said he continued to be dismayed by the news that Ziese was no longer employed by the BFA.

"There has to be some reason for this that I can't perceive...if this is allowed to go unchallenged then good luck to those who did it. But I think it should be challenged, by whom I can't say.'' Warner said that he felt one reason behind Ziese's dismissal was the release of the controversial correspondence.

"That was not part of the reason, that was the reason,'' he said. "A price was told for telling the truth.'' Later he said: "I will have Mr. Ziese on my list when a coaching vacancy comes up in another country. And I can tell you that could be any minute.'' Dunch said yesterday that the case could go to trial within the next six months, but would not specifically say what damages he was seeking on Ziese's behalf.

"The only basis upon which his consultancy agreement could be terminated is in the event of gross misconduct on his part,'' said Dunch. And I do not believe that there is any evidence of misconduct, much less gross misconduct.

"I have called upon the BFA to particularise the basis upon which it believes it had the right to terminate the contract and thus far it has not done so.'' Dunch said he felt the actions of the BFA "were in a manner that was perhaps impetuous. Based upon the material that I have been given by Mr. Ziese I believe that their actions were both premature and unwarranted. I also think it is regrettably going to be a considerable detriment both in the eyes of the Bermuda public and also, regrettably, within the football world as a whole.'' Echoed Warner: "Only time will tell how Bermuda soccer will be viewed by this. But once the world knows something they won't easily forget.'' ALLAN DUNCH -- `no alternative but to commence formal proceedings.'