Only certified coaches with a detailed coaching plan need apply for the soon-to-be-advertised post of Bermuda national cricket coach.

That was the word from Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James yesterday as the Board finalised their job description.

While the vacant post has yet to be officially advertised, the BCBC have already been flooded with applicants from interested ex-cricketers, many of whom are believed to have played at Test level.

"Many showing an interest are asking `let's see the Board's cricket plan', but the problem is we don't have a coaching plan. If we did we wouldn't need a coach,'' said James.

"We want a coach to come and put a plan together, present it to us, allow us to examine it and then go ahead and implement it. That's how we're approaching this matter. We want to stress to everyone one who is interested that right now we have nothing in place and it would be their job to come in and put something in place.

"It should be made clear also that we are not simply looking for someone with cricket knowledge. We are looking for somebody with coaching experience, who has done it before and knows what to do, somebody with recognised qualifications such as the advanced coaching certificate ... we are looking at putting a programme in place that is second to none.'' James was reluctant to release the names of the early applicants, although Bermuda's own former bowler Clarence Parfitt, now based in Scotland, expressed an interest during his return to the Island late last year.

Parfitt held some talks with James who explained at the time that a job description had not been finalised.

But with the Board now insisting that the successful applicant be the holder of an advanced coaching certificate, Parfitt and others who have only long-term involvement with the sport of cricket, may not meet their requirements.

"We told the affiliates at the recent AGM that we have had a long list of applicants, some great names from overseas along with some prominent locals, but the important and most encouraging thing at this stage is that we have had this list of very qualified people show an interest in coaching in Bermuda when we haven't even formerly advertised here or abroad,'' said James.

"We are just putting the final touches together for the job description and intend to advertise locally very soon. But while we are on the subject it should be known that we will be looking for somebody to do a good job not only with out national teams but somebody who is also capable of going into the community and helping the clubs set up programmes, going into the schools and working with the teachers, helping the schools improve on their programmes ... somebody who has unique capabilities of taking on all of these responsibilities.'' Any locals who are interested but who realise that they don't meet the qualifications are being urged by the BCBC to work towards obtaining their advanced coaching certificate.

James conceded that there were a few who had already reached this stage but gave no indication whether they had applied or if they would have the inside track.

"Ultimately it would be our intention to employ a Bermudian to fill the position and take us to something like the World Cup,'' he added.

Barbardian Willie Bourne was here recently to conduct a junior coaching course and he will return later to conduct a senior and eventually an advanced course -- but there is a waiting period of a year between exams before individuals are eligible to sit the next course.

"The good thing is that we have eight who have passed the senior course and will now have to wait until next year to take the advanced, so progress is being made to get people qualified,'' said James.

"I wouldn't put a time limit on things, but we need a coach as soon as possible. We need one like yesterday, really. The sooner somebody with the necessary qualifications is taken on the better.'' In the meantime, James hoped that Allan Douglas would continue in his role as acting national coach, a post he has held for several years.

"Allan has been a workhorse for Bermuda cricket, one certainly can't deny that he hasn't done a great job as a part-timer. He's kept cricket alive and I would hope he would continue playing his role until a programme is put together.''