While Bermuda have it all to do to stave off Nations League relegation, former national coach Michael Findlay is on the cusp of qualifying for the Gold Cup with his new team.

Findlay has steered St Vincent & the Grenadines to four wins in his first four matches in charge, with one more win in their final two matches in the next international window all but guaranteeing them a place in the Gold Cup.

Like Bermuda, St Vincent, who were ranked three places below the Gombey Warriors in Fifa World rankings, came out of pot two in the Concacaf Nations League draw, but Findlay masterminded a victory over top seeds French Guiana in his first game in charge and has since beaten Belize and Sint Maarten (twice).

That leaves St Vincent top of the group with 12 points, three clear of French Guiana and with a superior goal difference. The team finishing top of the group will head straight to the Gold Cup, which will be held in June and July next year, with the two best runners-up in the four League B groups going into a preliminary qualifier.

Speaking exclusively to The Royal Gazette, Findlay revealed his excitement at the start his new team has made to life under him.

“I’m very pleased with our recent success, especially for the players as their focus and work ethic is showing signs of early success, the federation and also for the Vincentian fans as they are demanding results but are also very excited about this team and its performance in the Nations League,” Findlay said.

“However, as we all know in Concacaf and football in general you need to finish the work you start, so we will continue to focus on the key elements which got us here and we look forward to the November window and matches.”

During his time in charge of the Gombey Warriors, Findlay led Bermuda to the final group stage of World Cup qualifying for the first time, with Flora Duffy Stadium hosting games against Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Curaçao.

He left his position in March when his contract was not renewed, with Findlay’s assistant, John Barry Nusum, officially appointed as his replacement by the Bermuda Football Association in August.

Nusum is still waiting for his first win as Bermuda coach after the national team lost all four Nations League matches in the recent international window.

The new coach has had to find replacements for senior players Reggie Lambe and Dante Leverock after they retired at the end of the last cycle, and there have been signs of promise, with Bermuda taking the lead in three of their four recent matches.

But the Gombey Warriors will need to win their final two Nations League matches next month against St Lucia and Guadeloupe, and hope other results go their way, if they avoid relegation to the lowest tier of Concacaf for the next Nations League cycle.