MANY in Bermuda who follow the English League with keen interest are getting a funny feeling that Shaun Goater won't be at Manchester City next season.

News that the club plans a spending spree during the summer to prepare for their return to the Premiership won't be comforting to those who are looking forward to the Bermudian striker lining up against the top teams in England next season.

Within days of clinching promotion comes the news out of Maine Road that manager Kevin Keegan will be bringing in new players as he sets about taking the club into the top half of the division. Chairman David Bernstein confirmed on the City website on the weekend that there would be intense activity in the transfer market with the boss eyeing some big names.

The club recently bought Jonathan Macken, a player eight years Goater's junior, and if another striker comes in Goater, at 32 the oldest of the current crop, could be surplus to requirements. The player recently vowed to fight for his place regardless of who comes in. He did it when former World Player of the Year George Weah and Paulo Wanchope were signed two seasons ago, recovering from an early knee injury to not only claim a place in the first team but lead the team's scoring in the Premiership with 12 goals.

Certainly Goater's scoring record cannot be questioned. He has scored exactly 200 goals for three different clubs in the last nine seasons. Only twice in those nine seasons has he failed to reach the 20-goal mark, the first time in 1993-94 when he netted 13 times in 30 matches while still trying to establish himself at Rotherham.

But since that season the goals by Goater have come with impressive regularity, scoring 25 and 24 in his last two seasons with Rotherham and then 25 and 21 (three with Man City) in just under two seasons with Bristol City.

The 400,000 pounds City paid for Goater in 1998 ranks as one of the best deals anywhere in England as the player has netted 95 goals for the club to put himself amongst the all-time top goal scorers at City.

Even so, clubs do sell top players for various reasons and not even a 30-goal season (the first by a City player in 30 years) or the fact that the Bermudian has been City's top scorer every season since he arrived there, will prevent the manager from selling him if he sees it as a good business move. Surely they would make a profit on his sale, making him Bermuda's first million pound footballer.

By all indications Goater is very happy at Maine Road and his recent comments that he is ready to stay and fight for his place no matter who Keegan signs in the summer drew support from several City fans. Here are their remarks:

"Goater and a world-class striker will set the Premiership alight next season." - Michael Thomlinson, Welwyn Garden City.

***

"He should be given his chance, he's not failed us in the past, go on Shaun another 30 in the Prem. Feed the Goat! - Cliff Lea, Hampshire.

***

"Shaun Goater has never given less than 100 per cent for City and obviously adores the club. He should certainly be given the chance in the top flight again." - Mike Clarke, Luxembourg.

***

"Goater deserves a start in the Prem. Then let's see how he goes. The Goat needs his feast of goals and I reckon he'll not go hungry!" - John Page, London.

***

"It's too early to put the Goat out to pasture. Come on Shauny boy, let's crack the Premiership." - Gary Pierce, Eccles, Manchester.

***

"Congratulations to the Goat on 30 goals so far this season. He's had his knockers but he has buckled down and worked like the true sportsman he is. I think he can score goals in the Premiership as in recent seasons when we were in the lower echelons of the Football League. He has scored against Leeds, Southampton, Ipswich to name a few. He will always be a City legend in my eyes and although we may see the great man leave in the summer, I will never forget the hard work and determination that the Goat put in to win over the greatest, yet most demanding fans in the country." - Christopher Bewbrook, Stockport.

***

"Shaun has improved and improved as a player since he came to the club. He may look a little slow outside the box, but when he gets in that box there is no one better or faster. I love singing 'Feed the Goat'." - Elaine Harrison, Middleton.

***

"The thing that I like most about the Goat is that when he misses a chance, and he has missed loads, he's there for the next one. You will not find the Goat going hiding. He deserves all the plaudits, and to be a legend. People say he can't cut it in the Premiership, but I thought he did okay last season in what was a poor side." - Steve Street, Hollingworth.

***

"I can only but agree with the above but all the fans should ask themselves - 'who was our top scorer last season in the Premiership?' Of course, the Goat, and we did have a poor team." - Singer-poor Sam, Manchester.

***

"The Goat is up there with some of our best forwards like Dickov, Tueart and Bell." - Ali Rancor, Saudi Arabia.

***

"Ali, I can understand the obvious comparison that you're making that Goat is up there with Dickov, another City legend, but come on Bell and Tueart would get nowhere near the Goat. Well done Goat and I'm making an appeal for a party of Blues to go over to Bermuda on the 21st June to celebrate the great man's day." - Gavin Newbrook, Stockport.