At 4.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Gus Logie was a three-bedroom cottage away from signing a four-year deal to lead Bermuda to 2011 World Cup qualification.

And following the intervention of Premier Alex Scott and Government, the former West Indies Test star has no more stumbling blocks to keep him from putting pen to paper and taking Island cricket on to further success.

Logie, who led the team to World Cup and Intercontinental Cup final qualification this summer, had agreed personal terms with the Bermuda Cricket Board to keep him here until 2009 but there was one obstacle to overcome.

The spiralling cost of housing meant the BCB could not find suitable accommodation for Logie, his wife and three children, and were considering a public appeal to help find either affordable housing or a sponsor to subsidise the rent.

But the Premier and Government stepped in yesterday, leaving Logie ready to settle here and continue the job for which he has already earned considerable praise.

?We are pleased to say that there are no longer any obstacles to Gus Logie staying on as coach of Bermuda for another four years,? said a relieved BCB chief executive Neil Speight yesterday, just nine days before Logie was due to fly off the Island to return home to his native Trinidad.

?We are extremely grateful to the Premier and Government for stepping in to help solve the problem we were facing, without their support we would not be able to achieve what we want to do with Bermuda?s cricket team.

?We are, naturally, delighted that Gus is staying on with us. He has done an excellent job for us so far, we are very pleased with the current coaching arrangement and negotiations to keep him here had been ongoing for a while now.

?Gus had agreed terms but we were suffering like everyone else with the housing market and were unable to find anything suitable for him within our budget.

?But now that the Government has relieved that problem, we now have Gus to lead us to the World Cup and then prepare for the 2009 ICC Trophy which will be the qualification tournament for the 2011 World Cup.?

Logie, who leaves the Island next week but returns in the first week of October to prepare the side for their trip to Namibia next month, had been living in a one bedroom apartment while only on a temporary contract.

But to persuade him to stay on the Island long term, the BCB were in need of a larger property that has now been secured with the help of Government.

The BCB and Logie are expected to hold a Press conference early next week.