Caribbean Cup next week.

Best said he would be sitting down with coaches Mark Trott and Robert Calderon at the weekend to decide which 20 players he intends to take to the Cayman Islands for the tournament in early May.

"I've got a good idea who I want -- it's just a matter of getting down to the nitty-gritty,'' said Best.

The situation has been complicated by Shawn Goater's transfer yesterday from Bristol City to Manchester City.

Goater, along with Bermuda's other English-based player Kyle Lightbourne, had been a certainty to make the trip after Best had contacted their clubs and been assured that they wanted to take part in the tournament and would be free by May 3. Bermuda play their first Caribbean Cup game on May 6.

But Best was taken aback when informed by The Royal Gazette of Goater's move.

Manchester City are locked in a battle for survival at the bottom of the First Division.

However, Best knows recently-appointed City manager Joe Royle well from his own playing days at West Ham and is hopeful there won't be too many problems.

"Knowing Joe Royle he would want to help us out if he could. I'll have to get in touch right away,'' said Best.

Bermuda take on the host nation, Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands in Group Six of the tournament.

If they win that group they will journey to Trinidad in July to compete with the host nation and the winners of groups three and five. The winners of the three other groups, meanwhile, will go to Jamaica where they will be matched with the World Cup qualifiers.

Best, taking charge of his first tournament since taking on the job of technical director permanently -- he had the role on an interim basis for last year's Caribbean Cup in Jamaica -- has been busy gathering intelligence on Bermuda's opponents.

"I've had one or two reports on the Cayman Islands and we know a bit about Cuba,'' he said. "But the main thing is that we are prepared properly.'' To that end, Best has been working to get some international competition prior to the tournament. Negotiations over a short tour to St.Kitts at the end of April fell through but Bermuda Football Association hope to have some positive news on an incoming team by next week.

That would give fans on the Island their first taste of international soccer since Major League side Kansas City Wizards toured last year.

Meanwhile, Best ended confusion over CONCACAF's plans for a Caribbean Select XI to play Jamaica in New York on May 31.

President Jack Warner, visiting the Island last week for a meeting of the organisation's executive committee, said two squads of Possibles and Probables were expected to be chosen from teams in the six Caribbean Cup groups. They would take part in a match in Antigua on May 8 from which a final squad would be selected for the game in New York.

Best was also asked to recommend a couple of players for that match. But with his side competing in the Cayman Islands at the same time he was loath to let any players go.

After consultation with officials in the Caribbean Football Union, it was decided that Bermuda's main commitment was to the Caribbean Cup, he said.