Keith Tucker heralded the return of his predecessor Kenny Thompson to the national team set-up before declaring: "I am still the right man for the job."

The surprise turnaround will see Thompson work alongside Tucker as his assistant and help him plot Bermuda's passage past Cayman in next month's crunch World Cup qualifier.

Thompson replaces Jack Castle as Tucker's deputy. Castle was sacked last week after falling out with his former boss. Pressure has been mounting on Tucker following a string a disappointing results and he believes Thompson's experience and know-how will prove to be valuable in turning the tide.

"Kenny Thompson has joined as my assistant and we don't have many men on the Island with his credentials," said Tucker who succeeded Thompson when he stepped down as Bermuda coach in November.

"He's had a little rest and I'm delighted he's back onboard. I want to have the best backroom staff I can assemble and in Kenny and Shawn Smith I have two very good assistants. There could be a few more coaching additions soon as well."

Tucker remains defiant in the face of recent criticism of his tactics and coaching methods and said he would not budge on his footballing principals or beliefs.

"When I arrived things were in a bit of disarray and I want things to just settle down," He said after last night's match against Revs. "I was asked to do this job and I chose to take up the challenge. The negative comments are part on parcel of the job and I expect that.

"When a team loses, the coach is always the first guy people look to blame and I've been a coach for 25-years so it's nothing new for me. It's impossible to please everybody, but I've got a plan and I'm trying to make it work.

"I want my team to play from the back and I think we're getting there. I felt we played some good stuff against the Revs and this was much improved on Saturday's performance."

The former Somerset Trojan added that the national team would have two more home fixtures in early March, before heading to Miami to prepare for the Cayman match.

As for Thompson, the presence of the former national coach in the team set-up created a buzz at the National Sports Centre.

He appeared to have a positive influence on the players on the pitch - and even on some of those in the stands who have opted so far not to take part in Bermuda's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Thompson seemed to take things all in stride, but made it perfectly clear there's "still much work to be done" before Bermuda lock horns with Cayman Island in the second leg of their opening World Cup qualifier in the Caribbean next month.

He said: "We have to work hard and it's important that we are committed and work hard and I'm looking forward to being a part of the team and doing what I am asked to do in the best interest of the team.

"Coach Tucker asked me to come onboard and assist and I am very happy to do so. Obviously our immediate goal is to try and progress beyond the second leg, but it's equally important, as I've always said, to look at the long-term picture as well.

"Our immediate task is to try and get past Cayman Island, which I think we can do if we work hard. But we also have to have an eye on the future as well."