Gary Darrell could be given his first test as national coach as early as Christmas.

Bermuda Football Association revealed yesterday that there were plans to bring in Jamaica over the holiday period.

That would fall in line with what the BFA said last March when they announced the next winners of the traditional Dudley Eve tournament could come from overseas.

"What we have is two options before March of next year," said Robert Calderon, head of the BFA's technical committee.

"The first option is Jamaica coming in over the Christmas period. Also we are looking at Canada coming in before March."

Darrell said that it was hoped that those not involved with the national programme would also get a chance to pit their wits against a superior class of opposition.

"One of the plans with this Christmas thing is to do as we used to do before and expose more players than just national team players to some international competition - let the clubs play against some of these visitors. That would maybe give them some incentive to be first (in the league) at the Christmas break or maybe win the FA Cup so that they know next year they have an opportunity to put themselves on display in front of the whole of Bermuda at the National Stadium against some foreign opposition."

Whatever happens, Calderon said the emphasis would be on nurturing a young national team.

"We are looking at Olympic level teams coming in to play against the younger national team. We are looking to put in training a very young team with the idea to prepare them for the Pan American Games next year, also the 2006 World Cup and the qualifiers that go before that.

"The idea is that we have a long range objective as opposed to something short term."

Those plans will probably spell the end of the international careers of the likes of Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne.

But Darrell said he believed they may still have a role to play in the immediate future.

"I haven't thought that far yet and as Mr. Calderon mentioned we are looking at a very young team," he said. "But if the rules are still as they were before and we can use over-age players then why not use the best we have to lead and support the younger players."