Bermuda?s top footballers are to be given the chance to play professionally in the US following news that the Island?s national team have been admitted to the United Soccer League (USL).

USL executives are expected to officially confirm soon that a Bermuda team will play in the league?s second division ? a move that could help revitalise the sport domestically.

It was learned yesterday that former English pro striker Shaun Goater, in partnership with national coach Kyle Lightbourne and assistant coach Paul Scope, had received the green light by USL officials to enter a team in league.

Goater, who retired from a long and sparkling career in the UK pro leagues earlier this year, recently flew to the US to personally assess the league in which he hopes to see Bermuda compete as early as next season.

And the former Manchester City striker was ?very impressed? with what he observed.

?It (league) was a higher standard than I was anticipating and I think it is the perfect standard for our guys,? Goater told

?It is a better level than what the guys are used to playing at home, and it is just what we are looking for in terms of moving along the standard in Bermuda and exposing our players who I really do think could get a lot out of it.

?It gives our players a chance to play in a professional environment and gives them regular games.

?And I think it can really make a difference for us when it comes to competing with some of the top sides in the region who have professional players and professional leagues operating in their own countries.?

Scope agreed.

?This is an incredible opportunity for us to really advance the national team because our biggest problem has always been Bermuda?s isolation,? he said last night.

?This could be the solution because we know our limitations, and qualifying for the World Cup is probably beyond even our wildest dreams,? Scope added.

?We want to be able to compete with the Jamaicans, the Haitians and Trinidad even though they have the massive advantage over us of professional domestic leagues.

?And I think this team can go a lot further with the sort of talent we have.

?But it is about making the most of this talent, trying to get the guys playing regularly and as many of them as possible playing abroad.?

Contacted last night, former West Ham striker Clyde Best said: ?It won?t hurt and it can only help enhance the game domestically having our players playing at a higher level than they are presently.

?However, it?s going to take a combined effort from everyone involved to make sure it runs smoothly because this is a huge responsibility these fellows have taken on.

?But overall I think this is good for Bermuda football.?