SHAUN Goater winds up his annual soccer festival with an appearance for the national team against Manchester City's Youth Academy tonight . . . and then it's time for some serious thinking.

Bermuda's most successful player in the English League since Clyde Best bowed out in the 1970s, Goater has reached the crossroads of a mostly glittering career.

Unwanted by Championship League Reading, who are now prepared to buy out the remaining year on his contract, the affable striker has to decide whether to continue playing - most likely with a lower league club - or call it quits.

Should he lean towards retirement, there would be plenty of options in the UK, given his popularity with fans, managers, club directors and the media.

But if, as he has hinted previously, it's time to come home, his options could be severely limited.

As much as Bermuda Football Association could use someone of Goater's experience to work alongside his close friend, national coach Kyle Lightbourne, it's doubtful they could afford his services.

Creating a post such as director of football, as some have suggested, sounds a wonderful idea.

Goater and Lightbourne in tandem could no doubt take Bermuda football to another level.

Two former professionals with enormous experience, respected by the players, great role models for the youth . . . the BFA could hardly ask for more.

But on the association's current limited budget, chances of such a partnership becoming reality would appear slim.

Sponsors for local football have hardly been clambering to get onboard in recent years, and it was a shortage of cash that was primarily responsible for Director of Youth Kenny Thompson vacating his post earlier this year.

At this stage it would seem the money to facilitate any new appointment simply isn't available.

But it would be a crying shame if Goater did decide to call it a day and returned home only to find there were no opportunities for employment.

Given Goater's current predicament, one would hope that the executive of the BFA have already discussed among themselves, or perhaps even with their corporate contacts, how the dilemma could be solved.

It may be that the Goat will play on for another year, but it will likely be a year at most.

And at some point soon Bermuda has to be prepared to give back to someone who has given so much.

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WHATEVER it is new cricket coach Gus Logie is doing to help improve the batsmen among Bermuda's national squad, it seems to be working.

Three of them - Lionel Cann, Delyone Borden and Chris Foggo - smashed centuries during last week's Belco Cup semi-finals and final, while hobbling skipper Clay Smith still managed a more than useful 70 not out and Janeiro Tucker 72.

Cann, Borden, Smith and Tucker are all among the final 14 heading for next month's ICC Trophy while Foggo, on standby, would at this stage likely be considered the first alternate should any player have to drop out.

From a batting perspective, it bodes well for the tournament in Ireland.

Now if only Logie could see the same improvement in his bowlers!

- ADRIAN ROBSON