Shaun Goater's decision last week to sever ties with Manchester City at the end of the English soccer season didn't come as a surprise to Bermuda senior national coach Gary Darrell.

Like many others on the Island, Darrell is baffled why Goater's coach Kevin Keegan has left him on the bench after his two-goal burst that sent Manchester United plunging to 3-1 defeat at Maine Road in November and then the equaliser as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in February.

Darrell's view is that City's loss will be another club's gain, noting that it's quite possible another Premiership side could come in for the Bermudian striker during the summer.

"If there is a team who wants an established goalscorer right away then surely Shaun may be able to get hooked on to that club, it would work out fine for him and that particular club," Darrell believes.

"Nobody should doubt his ability. Shaun has been the leading goal scorer everywhere he has been since going to England and that hasn't been just by luck."

Even with his impressive scoring record, Goater hasn't been able to convince Keegan that he is the best man to suit up with top striker Nicolas Anelka, preferring to use recent signing Robbie Fowler up front with the Frenchman in what the manager feels is a more potent two-man attack.

Since the arrival of Fowler from Leeds United for ?6-million in January, Goater has been relegated to the bench and has only made the occasional appearance as a substitute. Most of those appearances have been limited to rather embarrassing stints under ten minutes.

Keegan has praised Goater publicly for his attitude since losing his starting place in the team, but while the player had vowed to fight for his place against Keegan's more expensive signings, he recently accepted the fact that he is losing the battle and that a move to another club would be his best chance of regular football.

"It would be hard for anybody to question his ability because he has proven what he can do," said Darrell. "Shaun has really produced the goods over an extended period. But I don't know whether it was his style or play or just that Keegan was looking further down the road. I don't think it was his ability at this stage, he was the leading scorer everywhere he has been."

Many other locals felt the same way, thinking that Goater would force his way back into the team after his three goals in the two matches against fierce rivals United. It never happened.

"Yes, for sure I thought he would be a starter after the goals against United. You are hungry, you are waiting for a chance, you go out and produce the goods and I am certain Shaun said to himself `good, I have proven to the guy (Keegan) that I can get the job done against one of the best teams in the division'. What better circumstance to prove your worth," said Darrell.

Darrell feels Goater's decision to seek a move away from Maine Road was timely, even though Keegan had stated he wanted him to see out the remaining year of his contract.

"It's probably in his best interest that he looks to moving on," said Darrell.

"I am not really surprised that he has taken this long to make this decision, having been there as long as he has and all of those other things that has happened while he has been there probably always gave hope that he would get the chance to prove himself as a player who deserves the job.

"What Goater said to the last week made a lot of sense. Those guys in the squad are going through a bad patch and if he is not being considered when they are struggling then what chance does he have when they are on their game.

"If he really wants to play at the highest level at this stage of his career then he really needs to get to a club that will give him the opportunity of playing first team football . . . wherever that may be. I think he is on the right track."

Goater's aspirations of coaching in Bermuda also brought a positive response from Darrell, but the national coach cautioned: "I think if he really wants to make a career aside of a player in football, he should spend some time outside of Bermuda and by the time he gets whatever experience he needs he will always be welcomed here where a place should be for him."