While Bermuda Football Association and tour organisers remained silent, New England Revolution press officer Brad Feldman yesterday confirmed that the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference finalists would visit Bermuda?s shores in less than two weeks? time for a two-match pre-season tour.

Speaking from the team?s headquarters at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts ? home of NFL Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots ? Feldman said the MLS side were looking forward to the tour with great ?enthusiasm? especially since they would have an opportunity to test their mettle against Kyle Lightbourne?s national team.

The Revolution arrive in Bermuda on February 27 with a squad expected to contain 20 to 22 players. They?re scheduled to take on a local select on March 1 and the senior national team on March 3, both at the National Sports Centre.

The team completed last season with an overall record of 8-13 and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals where they were defeated by eventual champions DC United in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

?The players are very much looking forward to coming to Bermuda as a destination and also the chance to test themselves against the national team,? said Feldman.

?The guys have already been looking on the internet checking out the Bermuda website and the hotel (Pompano Beach) and there?s definitely a buzz going on about the trip.?

The Revolution are coached by former Liverpool star Steve Nicol, who helped the Merseyside giants claim the European Cup, four Premiership titles and three English FA Cups.

Nicol represented the Reds between 1982 and 1994, playing under managers Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Graeme Souness while also representing Scotland on 27 occasions including the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico.

Nicol, who also played for English clubs Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster United, is assisted at Revolution by former Ipswich Town and England striker Paul Mariner.

?Last year we were a penalty shoot-out away from advancing to the MLS finals,? Feldman continued. ?So we are hoping Bermuda will be the element to our pre-season training that finally pushes us over the edge because we have been so close to winning the championship in the last three seasons.?

The Eastern Conference side appeared in the 2002 MLS Finals but have yet to progress beyond the semi-finals for the past two seasons.

Expected to accompany the Revolution to Bermuda?s shores are Trinidad and Tobago defender Avery John, Grenada born forward Shalrie Joseph, US World Cup veteran Carlos Llamosa along with Uruguay midfielder Jose Cancela.

The MLS side also contain Canadian international Felix Brillant in addition to four players currently challenging for spots on the US national team, said Feldman.

?Our team roster is filled with notable players,? he added. ?We have six or seven players with US national team credentials. Four of them are currently on the US national team pool and so we have a good mixture of South American, Latin, Caribbean and US-based players.

?And although I can?t guarantee at this time what the final touring team roster will be, I can say that we will bring along a great selection of players. And we?re very much looking forward to playing football in the warmer climate in Bermuda.?

Following their visit here, the Revolution will return to New England for a week before embarking on a four-match tour of Ecuador, beginning on March 15.

The Revolution kick off the 2005 MLS season against Western Conference side San Jose Earthquakes on April 2.

Their visit to Bermuda follows closely on the heels of Brazilian champions Santos? tour late last month.

Santos defeated Lightbourne?s national team 3-0 at the NSC, drew 0-0 against Premier Division champions Dandy Town before edging by a local select 1-0 at Somerset Cricket Club.