full-time national cricket coach.

The matter will be included on a busy agenda when Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James takes part in talks with regional countries in Toronto today and tomorrow.

While unsure whether the ICC would be willing to help provide funding for a coach, James was optimistic that officials John Sheppard and Ross Turner would offer positive advice in Bermuda's attempt to fill a post which has been vacant for several years.

Sheppard, the ICC regional development officer, and Turner, the overall development officer, will chair talks which involve Bermuda, Canada, United States and Argentina.

"We have a list of goals we are aiming to reach now that we have been able to put a good development plan in place. Our position now is that we must find somebody capable of carrying these plans out,'' said James before leaving.

"We must reach out and take our cricket to another level and this is where we are now. Just what steps should be taken to reach these goals will be explored with the ICC representatives. Hopefully we will collectfully come up with something that will fill our needs.'' Though disappointed by Bermuda's three losses in Jamaica last week, James noted that the input by coach Allan Doulgas had been "phenomenal.'' "There is no doubt that Douglas has done a great job, he has sacrificed a lot of his time, worked under stressful conditions as far as facilities are concerned and he has still managed to somehow carry us well, '' said the president.

"But we have reached a point where we have to aim higher, we just don't need a coach to assist the national teams, we need somebody to go into the schools, into the clubs and help develop the game at all levels.'' Reflecting on Bermuda's Red Stripe Bowl performances, James said: "The first game we came close to winning and many felt we should have, but we did give a good account of ourselves. It so happened that there was a long lay-off before the next game and unfortunately we did not perform as well for the rest of the tour.

"However, there were some really good individual performances that we can build on. We are going to launch a full inquiry because if we are going to continue making progress then we want to know what we should or should not do in the future.''