time deciding on their next full-time national coach, then nobody should be too surprised.

Having seen what has transpired across the corridors of their Cedar Avenue offices over the past 10 years, they have every reason to be cautious.

As cricket continues its struggle to restore respectability on the international stage, the last thing it needs is the same confusion and controversy which has dogged whoever has had the misfortune of heading Bermuda Football Association's coaching staff.

BCBC president El James has, quite rightly, insisted his board will only make an appointment when they find the person who they feel can institute a solid developmental programme and put the sport back on track at international level.

Around 20 years ago our top cricketers were regarded as some of the most talented outside the Test arena.

What has transpired since has been a slow and painful decline which has seen countries who Bermuda would have once played off the park, rise to prominence.

Bangladesh, Kenya, Scotland, Ireland and Canada are all teams who Bermuda would have expected to beat handily, but not so today.

Cricket here has simply failed to keep pace with changes implemented in other parts of the world and the results have been there for all to see.

To a lesser extent, it's been a similar story in the West Indies although there are now signs that their much maligned Test side are on the road to recovery.

An excuse for the regression often offered in the Caribbean and elsewhere is the growth of other sports. Basketball, in particular, has been blamed for luring away kids who previously would have preferred to play cricket.

But like another popular American sport that comes to mind, basketball is basically for `giants' -- if you're not six feet six or more, chances of making into the NBA aren't very good.

Cricket, on the other hand, puts up no such barriers and today is being played in more countries than ever before.

Bermuda's youngsters, as with so many sports, are naturally gifted. Yet too often we've been let down by poor organisation, a lack of discipline and inadequate coaching.

That in no way is meant to reflect on the current administration and, in particular, part-time national coach Allan Douglas who has done a sterling job under difficult circumstances.

But with James indicating that among the applicants for the recently created full-time coaching post are a host of former international players from countries all around the world, Bermuda has the opportunity to move forward.

What the president and his committee will want to guard against is the appointment of a `big name' whose coaching qualifications don't match his reputation as a player. Bob Jones, head coach here in the '70s and at the helm when Bermuda won the International Youth Tournament and reached the semi-final of the ICC Trophy in 1979, earned much respect for the coaching programmes he implemented yet had never been a renowned player.

There may be concern in some quarters that the BCBC are again leaning towards an overseas appointment -- only one local application was received -- but the majority of senior cricketers will likely agree that if Bermuda are to succeed at next year's ICC Trophy and advance to the World Cup, expertise from outside the Island is needed to pave the way.

More importantly the sport needs an injection of enthusiasm at school and youth level which will ensure a continuation of that success.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON