being pursued as leader of the Island team which will compete in the Shell/Umbro Cup, scheduled to begin in mid-February.

Bermuda Football Association were yesterday reported to be keen on persuading Darrell to take over the position on a temporary basis with time running out to prepare the squad for the Caribbean's top soccer competition.

"We have really been battling with this situation all week,'' said a concerned Aldwyn Savery, chairman of the BFA's coaching committee.

Darrell is arguably Bermuda's most successful coach, having guided the national team to the second round of World Cup qualifying in 1992 -- Bermuda's best run ever in the competition.

A senior national squad has been absent from major competition since then and with just about eight weeks remaining until the start of the Shell/Umbro tournament, the BFA feel that Darrell is the right man for the job.

The former Southampton Rangers coach is considered to be more familiar with local players than Best, who was earlier tipped for the national coach post.

But Best -- Bermuda's most celebrated player who established himself in England and several other countries during the late '60s and '70s -- is still the candidate that the BFA would like to see as Technical Director of Coaching, a position most recently held by the controversial Burkhard Ziese.

Negotiations are reportedly still ongoing with Best, who recently arrived on the Island from his residence in California. However, the BFA have been forced to look for somebody who can move swiftly and help them assemble a squad within a short timespan.

Savery yesterday was unwilling to throw any light on the coaching dilemma, but he confirmed that some local, established senior coaches had been approached and would be meeting with the committee shortly.

"We have approached a couple of people in regards to the coaching situation.

We certainly think by the end of this week we will make a statement as to who is going to prepare the team for the Shell/Umbro Cup,'' said Savery.

He conceded that the job would in all probability be given to somebody currently based in Bermuda.

"It is most likely that we won't go overseas for this particular project,'' he added.

But the real dilemma facing the BFA is whether or not Darrell will be available.

Southampton Rangers learnt at the start of the season that he was leaving their ranks as senior coach in order to concentrate more on his carpet-laying business. And now with Christmas being his busiest work period, there is some doubt over whether he will have any time to devote to soccer.

When contacted yesterday, Darrell refused to comment on the possibility of coaching for the competition.

Savery did, however, explain that the committee were concentrating on the Shell/Umbro Cup in other areas.

"We have been meeting regularly. We have been trying hard to sort out our coaching situation in various areas related to the senior team. We have selected certain players because we want to start the process.

"We realise that the coaches usually like to have the last say, but considering the short space of time, we have decided to recommend some players to be selected to form a squad just so that the long process can get underway.

"We have been evaluating our overall coaching programme for this in terms of equipment. We are trying to secure the National Stadium as a training ground as well. So we are really looking into getting as much done over the next week in order to get things started smoothly.'' As far as Best is concerned, apparently he is close to being signed to replace Ziese, having impressed BFA members, club affiliates and the public at large.

Many feel that Best would be an ideal role model for local youngsters and the fact that parents can identify with him makes his appointment all the more likely.

"Our young people need role models like Clyde to look up to, and signing him on instead of going abroad for another foreigner would be a major investment in the sport overall,'' said one top club official who didn't wish to be named.

GARY DARRELL -- BFA's number one choice for the vacant post of national coach.