after a difference of opinion over his scheduled return to England.

Henson blasted Goater in Friday's Mid-Ocean News for staying in Bermuda longer than planned, especially since the striker suffered a knee injury that cost him much of the second half of last season.

"He was fully aware of when I expected him to come back,'' said Henson. "He is not doing himself any favours.'' But Goater claimed yesterday he was never told of a date the manager wanted him back in England to undergo treatment on his knee prior to resuming pre-season training, and furthermore, efforts to contact a vacationing Henson had failed.

He said the first he knew of plans to go to a sports injury clinic for special training on his knee was when he read the paper.

"(The reporter) never let me know she had spoken to my boss,'' Goater said.

"I tried to get in contact with him but he was on holiday. The secretary of the club said to call back in a few days. Then I read in the article that he was upset, so I called him three days ago (Friday) and spoke to him personally.

"We get along quite well but he did say he was upset. He said he wanted to look at my knee and also that my work permit and contract had expired, so for those reasons he would prefer me there to have those things sorted out.

"Now I'm aware he wants to put me at Lilleshall Rehabiliation Centre for a week to look at my knee again.'' As a result of their conversation, Goater will make an abrupt departure on Thursday, five days earlier than previously planned.

Goater says one thing he wants to avoid is leaving Bermuda again under a cloud of controversy. On the last occasion he slammed national team coach Gary Darrell after Bermuda were eliminated from the World Cup qualifying phase.

"For that matter I wanted to clear it up before I left so there is no bad atmosphere lingering about while I was out there,'' said Goater.

Goater's work permit and contract expired within a couple of days at the end of June and he is hoping to have both sorted once he returns to the club. The striker says he is not happy with the new terms offered by the club and English agent Mel Stein, whom he met through local lawyer Mark Georgevic, is negotiating on his behalf.

"It was a one-year offer but really wasn't much of an improvement,'' Goater explained.

Stein is one of the top agents in England and represents the likes of Alan Shearer, Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne, Mick Quinn and Michael Thomas.

"The boss knows he is dealing with somebody who knows what's happening,'' said Goater.

Leaving Bermuda earlier than planned means that Goater will miss the last two days of the soccer clinics he and David Bascome are holding at North Village field for more than 80 youngsters between the ages of five and 16.

The coaches assisting in the clinics are Wendell Baxter, Kyle Lightbourne, Herbie Bascome, Jon Beard, John Richmond and Devarr Boyles. About a dozen sponsors are also helping to make the clinics a success.

NOW WATCH ME -- Shawn Goater, right, and some of the youngsters in his clinic marvel at the skills of David Bascome yesterday at the North Village field at Bernard Park. Former Village team-mates Goater and Bascome, are holding two-week clinics for more than 80 youngsters with the help of other local coaches.