shocked to hear that technical director Clyde Best's contract will not be renewed.

Lightbourne was only recently approached by Best about returning to Bermuda for next month's friendly against Canada.

Now comes the news that Best is entering his last three months in the post, just as the team is starting to gear up for World Cup qualifying matches.

"He just told me his job was up for renewal, he didn't make it clear that they were terminating his contract,'' said Lightbourne who spoke with Best before Best received the news from the BFA last week. "This is a bit of a surprise to me, I just thought his contract was up for renewal. I have to digest it, I guess. There was no talk of it the last time I was home.'' The Canada fixture is seen as a crucial game for the team and while Lightbourne is without a match until the following weekend and "is interested'', the January 11 date is almost certain to rule out the other England professional Goater whose Manchester City team have an FA Cup tie against Leeds United two days earlier.

Lightbourne's availability will depend on if his manager agrees to release him for the match as Stoke are still very much in the promotion race in the Second Division.

Best had been planning to take a team to Europe on tour in preparation of the qualifying campaign next spring. Arrangements had already been made for the team to train at West Ham's ground -- Best's former club -- while a game against a West Ham team had also been lined up.

"He talked to me about the team coming through Europe,'' said Lightbourne."He keeps in contact with Shaun and myself on a regular basis, as far as what's going on in the national team. He had some ideas, provided he could get the right financing. He knows what he wants.'' Playing under managers who have been fired is nothing new to Lightbourne, who saw Gary Megson lose his job at Stoke last month because of a Icelandic consortium takeover. He had replaced Brian Little just five months earlier.

Both Lightbourne and Goater are looking forward to being a part of the World Cup qualifying campaign which starts with a first round match against the British Virgin Islands. America-based David Bascome, Meshach Wade and Dwayne (Streaker) Adams are also in the coach's plans.

Goater has played for Bermuda once since Best took over the post, and in that match against MLS team, DC United in March, Best was abroad.

"It's a funny time to have someone else come in, but having said that the players have to be professional and adjust to it and leave all the politics off the field and get on with the job,'' said Goater.

"I only played for him that one game while some players would have played for him six or seven times so I never got the chance to get an understanding with him but I was hoping that it was going to work with him.'' Goater, who has been a professional in England even longer than Best was at West Ham United between the late 1960s and mid-70s, says Best is still highly regarded there.

"A lot of people remember him and when they talk about football years ago his name does come up,'' said Goater. "And that's when I tell them that he's in charge of the national team.'' Goater, like Lightbourne, has played for several managers at club level and accepts such occurrences as part of the job.

"It doesn't come at the best suitable time, but it's then up to the players as to how they deal with it,'' Goater stressed.

"They have to block out all that in regards to his contract and do the best they can for him in the last game or two and then move on from there.'' Surprised strikers: Bermuda national team forwards Shaun Goater (left) and Kyle Lightbourne, who were shocked by the news of Clyde Best's contract termination.