playing in the English Premiership but other Bermudian footballers as well.

As Bermuda Football Association's new Technical Director, Best is well aware that the national team would benefit enormously from having more Bermudians play at the professional level.

Best was responding yesterday to news that Lightbourne was now on the verge of becoming the first Bermudian in two decades to play in the top division in the English League, regarded as one of the top leagues in the world.

It's a far cry from the '70s when Best himself played with West Ham and was one of just a handful of foreign players in England. Now foreign players are flocking to England and Best would like nothing more than to see others follow in his, Lightbourne and Goater's footsteps.

"It's good for us at the national level,'' said Best on hearing of Lightbourne's possible transfer this week to either Coventry City or Sheffield Wednesday.

Best spoke to Lightbourne during his brief vacation back on the Island.

"I was greatly impressed,'' said Best. "I like his mannerisms and his values and he's a typical athlete.

"If you've got a good athlete then you've got a good human being and that's what I see with him.'' Best thinks it may be more than his impressive scoring record over the last three seasons -- 76 goals for Walsall -- that has attracted attention from about a dozen clubs in three divisions since Lightbourne's contract expired.

"They are going to look to see whether you can play or not,'' says the man who has been there himself. "There are players who can score goals in the Second and Third Division who probably couldn't do it in the First Division.

"The reason they are taking him is because he's a good player. From what I've seen of him once or twice when he came to me at the (National) stadium, I can see he's a decent player.

"I think he's got the ability to play in it (Premiership) and it's just a matter of giving him the opportunity. If I was a manager I wouldn't hesitate to sign him. If you've got the right attitude and can play, they will take you.'' Many local players have been to England on trials over the years, some successful, but many not.

The key is to go as early as possible but none have been as young as 11-year-old Adam Connolly who will travel to West Ham's School of Excellence next month.

The young midfielder will play in their youth programme and may get the chance eventually to progress to the senior ranks.

UK the way to go says Best From Page 9 "I went at an early age and my advice is `earlier the better' because you get a chance to play with your peers,'' said Best who went to West Ham at age 17 and broke into the first team a year later.

Lightbourne's big break is coming at the age of 28 after four years in the lower divisions, first with Scarborough who released him in 1993 after a new manager took over, and then at Walsall where he came into his own after being given an extended run in the first team. He responded by being their top scorer for three seasons.

But Best doesn't necessarily agree with the suggestion that it's now or never for Lightbourne in terms of getting into the top flight.

"At 28 you are at your peak and he's just feeling it now and I just hope he does well,'' said Best. "It's great for us as such a small country and in this game it goes to show that good people do prevail.

"I just want more people from here to be given the opportunity to go over there and show what sort of players we have here in this little country. To be turning such soccer players out is a fantastic feat.

"My main thing is to get as many kids over in the near future and I'm sure we will. At the end of the day you are the one who has to decide.

"If the mountain is there and you don't want to climb it we can't make you climb it. Hopefully we can turn soccer around in this country and have kids who want to go that route and make a good living.'' Britain's Daily Mail newspaper yesterday reported that Coventry City had offered Walsall 600,000 ($1.008 million) for Lightbourne which, if accepted, would make the former PHC star Bermuda's first million dollar footballer.

Lightbourne has already had talks with Coventry manager Gordon Strachan and will meet with David Pleat of Sheffield Wednesday this week before deciding between the two clubs.