Bermuda will now have to play Haiti twice in trying to qualify for the Digicel Cup finals after it emerged over the weekend that the Dominican Republic had withdrawn from the competition.

Lack of funds was reportedly the reason behind the Republic’s decision not to travel to Trinidad next week for the play-offs with Haiti and Bermuda.

And assistant national coach Paul Scope said yesterday he was marginally happier with the new arrangement because “it was more likely that the truly best team with go through.”

“Obviously we would have never underestimated at team like the Dominican Republic,” he said in reference to the team Bermuda beat 3-1 in the opening stage of the Caribbean Cup last September in the US Virgin Islands.

“But in all honesty it would have been very unlikely for either us or Haiti not to have beaten them, and if we had squeezed a draw out of the Haiti game, it would would then have had to come down to who beat the Dominican Republic by a bigger margin, which can be a bit of lottery.

“This way, we have two games against the same opposition and the best team should win.”

The 18-man squad who will travel south to Trinidad on Friday are due to be named either today or tomorrow.