qualifiers if a top English club demanded his services.

The star goal-scorer revealed this yesterday on the heels of news that he has instead signed a new one-year contract with Second Division Rotherham before returning to join the national squad.

A number of clubs -- Sheffield Wednesday, Cambridge, Millwall and Wimbledon among them -- were reported to be interested in Bermuda's World Cup star and were watching keenly during Rotherham's second-leg League Cup match with Everton last Wednesday. Rotherham lost 3-0 after having their goalkeeper sent off in the first half.

And while Goater said he was pleased with his own performance no concrete offer was made, leaving the Bermudian to go for security with Rotherham by accepting a raise of 125 a week.

"I did sign before I came back, because it was a case of `out of sight, out of mind','' said Goater last night at Warwick Camp where the Bermuda team is based.

Goater's career has been at a crossroads since scoring the game's only goal against Everton in the first leg of the League Cup and he knew he needed to do it again in the return leg to prove it was not a fluke.

Being out of Rotherham's team for a couple of months can hurt his chances of not only being signed by a big club but could also leave him unable to regain his starting spot in the team.

"All said and done this is the worst time of my career to come back but then no concrete offer was made to the gaffer,'' Goater said.

"Hopefully this (World Cup) can put me back in the spotlight so that when I get back over there my gaffer will put me back in.

"I can't expect to walk right back in the team so I've got to make sure my fitness is there when I go back. If I'm scoring goals here I doubt if I'll be out of the team for long. "He (manager Phil Henson) told me that if the team is doing well and the goals are going in I can't expect to walk back in the team. I'm looking at having to play two or three reserve games. I'll be behind my schedule if I'm in the reserves for a month.'' Rotherham are seventh in the Second Division standings, with Goater their top scorer with seven goals in 14 league and cup games.

Goater's value has increased dramatically since his move from Manchester United two years ago for 35,000. And while United may have appeared to let him go cheaply there is a clause in the deal that assures Manchester United will receive half of what Rotherham eventually sell him for, an indication how highly they rate him.

"He (Henson) said he would be asking for at least 300,000 since Manchester United will get half of that,'' Goater explained.

Of the clubs having Goater watched, the player himself is most interested in Sheffield Wednesday who, because they are just 15 minutes away, will not require him to move house. He also likes the brand of soccer they play.

"It wouldn't be a matter of having to change house,'' he said of a possible transfer.

"I go there (to Sheffield) to get my hair cut and when I get back I'm going to get a car. That's that new contract, you see.'' Bermuda striker Philip Clarke is nursing an ankle injury, which he sustained last weekend against Boulevard. He is having treatment for the injury on his right ankle and expects to recover in time for Sunday's opening World Cup qualifier against El Salvador.

"I kept training on it and it just got worse,'' Clarke explained last night.

"On Saturday in training we were having shooting practice and I aggravated it more. It's been responding to treatment and a lot of the swelling has gone down.

"By Wednesday I should be able to start kicking again.'' STRETCHING OUT -- Albert Smith, right, and Shawn Goater during a squad work-out at National Stadium yesterday.

UNITY -- National squad members, from left, Carlyle Crockwell, Kyle Lightourne, Kevin Grant, Phillip Clarke and Neil Robinson on entering Warwick Camp over the weekend.