took on many a tough defender and came out on top.

Now it remains to be seen whether, in his new role as Bermuda Football Association Technical Director, he can succeed as a coach and reverse the Island's soccer fortunes.

This week saw Best take up his new post, having earlier served as national coach on an interim basis. And the one-time West Ham star says he expects to deliver to Bermuda a formidable senior squad within at least 12 months.

Forty-four year-old Best, more than perhaps anyone, recognises how the standard of local soccer has declined since he and former Somerset Trojans' team-mate Randy Horton kicked up a storm during their heyday in the Sixties.

And while he asks local fans to be patient, his advice to the national team players is to become fully committed to the programme.

"I would hope we can get a decent team playing well together within a year.

If we can't do that, then something is wrong,'' said Best this week.

"If you look at Jamaica, they have been playing together for the past two years and they have come along quite nicely.'' But he stresses the importance of both players and fans being patient, and urges both to support the national team with pride.

"I will tell soccer enthusiasts here first that they must all get behind the national team. Let's rally and get the national pride back. If someone from your club team is sitting on the bench, still find the time to root for the squad. Don't look at the team and think of the club, we have to think of the national team.

"You have to forsake your club loyalty when you come and see the national team play. Don't get on the backs of the players and try to put them down because I am probably going to ask them to do some things that they have never had to do before.'' Best concedes that developing a strong senior squad won't be easy, pointing out that it will require full commitment from all those involved.

"But with time it will work. I have been in the international game since I was 17 years-old. Don't tell me that I don't know anything about the game. I know what is necessary to get someone to where they have to go. So we have to be patient. The game is all about being patient, not to do things in a hurry.

We have to learn all of these different concepts of the game which is something that is missing here.

"When we were playing we were that good because we spent time on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and after school playing soccer. We had good role models, we had people we could look at and learn from and emulate. Perhaps we don't see much of that now. We've got to get back to doing that.'' Best refuses to blame soccer's decline on the BFA, instead pointing his finger at the players and the coaches.

"I think in Bermuda we have to come to the conclusion that our soccer is in disarray. But I think it's something that can be fixed. I think it's just a matter of us all coming together and saying `hey, we have a problem and we have to fix it'.'' he said.

"I think the players have to accept the blame. I think a lot of people who have been coaching have to take the responsibility, and if we strive for the same thing I think we can repair the damage that has been done.'' What he has seen of the young players in his limited time back on the Island has impressed Best, and he believes it's simply a matter of time before their skills begin to blossom.

"Presently, I feel that the players between eight and 10 who I have seen are fairly comfortable with the ball. I saw that when I was walking across West End Primary school the other day and noticed how many children were in the yard playing soccer in a small area during recess.

"I think the only way you learn to play soccer is by playing and practising.

I don't think the players have done that sufficiently over the years and that's why the game is like it is. I think the people who have been coaching haven't been passing on the right information.

"I think we can solve these problems. I don't think it's a big, big task because we are a very small country with probably 1500 to 2000 soccer players.

I think we have to recognise that we have to develop at an early age. I would go back to the cliche of building a house -- you don't build from the roof, you build from the foundation.''