BERMUDA'S national football team are in capable hands, said new technical director Derek Broadley this week.

Broadley, who was the head coach with the Reading Rage organisation in the United States over the past four and a half years and was formerly Crystal Palace's Academy Director, said he will be keeping an eye on the national team ahead of the second-leg World Cup qualifying tie against the Cayman Islands later this month. Cayman sprang a surprise on Bermuda in the first leg coming away with a 1-1 draw at the National Sports Centre.

Broadley said: "I will meet with the national staff and coaches. I am sure their preparations are underway. Obviously I have a keen interest in that result (against Cayman) and will offer any support that is needed. But I know the team is in capable hands and if they need some support then I will certainly throw my weight behind it. However I do not know when I will be involved with the national programme. The time scale is what we have been discussing today (with BFA officials) but I am sure over the next couple of weeks I will be talking to some of the people to see what is going on. I am sure at some point I will meet with (national coach) Keith (Tucker) and some of his staff and see where I can lend support. over the next few weeks."

Before accepting the job Broadley had arranged to go to England on a Masters coaching course.

He said: "I am flying to England on Tuesday as part of a Master course and that was already agreed to ¿ I will be in London for 10 days."

Broadley said that accepting the job as technical director was a"natural progression" for him.

With numerous coaching courses and certificates under his belt the Englishman spent a number of years at Crystal Palace and then went to Pennsylvania to head up the Reading Rage. "It is something I have always been looking forward to," he said of being named the island's technical director. "It is a natural progression for me in my career. It is a challenging role and a great opportunity for me to improve the football here in Bermuda."

Broadley has had some contact with local players and coaches while with the Reading Rage as a few youth teams have visited during the summer.

"I also kept a keen eye on the Hogges last year. My first impressions (of local players) are that they are technically very good but they could stand a bit more of the work ethic at the youth level and that is certainly something we can try and adjust.

"I also want to make sure that Bermudian players have the opportunity to go overseas and play and the Rage will be a useful avenue to use ¿ it is something we should look at. I have got to meet a few of the local coaches. That is one of the things I want to do early ¿ get out and about and introduce myself to the clubs and find out what the local views are. That is how I want to start."

One of his main tasks will be coaching education. "Coaching education will be a big thing. I know that in the past they (BFA) have invited coaches from England and from around the world. It will be my aim to develop a coaching education system that is unique for Bermuda. We are not England, we are not Germany or anywhere else. I want to make sure to put something in place that is sustainable and will breath football into the local Bermudian people that suits their needs."