allowing them to pass the recent `B' Licence coaching course, were yesterday denied by Jon Beard, a member of the Bermuda Football Association coaching committee.

The Royal Gazette had been informed by anonymous sources that Boyles and Bascome failed to fulfil "physically demanding'' requirements of the course, but on Wednesday were among five coaches who were awarded pass certificates.

However, Beard insisted yesterday that their inclusion was justified. "The only person who couldn't do the physical was Devarr. Andrew was there throughout. Andrew may have missed the first couple of sessions because he was injured, but that was all. I don't think there was any controversy about it at all,'' said Beard.

"Devarr's situation is that he has had some type of operation where they shaved off some of the bone on his leg and when he tries to do too much, it's very painful. In fairness to him he played in goal whenever he could and when it wasn't going to be a detriment to everybody else. He picked up balls and rounded up gear and things like that.'' Beard explained that nobody would have failed the course based solely on their inability to play football.

"In Devarr's case,'' added Beard, "the committee of coaches knew his ability to play football and it would have made him one of the better players on the field. If we didn't know just how good he was playing football it wouldn't have been possible to pass him.

"We just thought that it would have been unfair to stop somebody who potentially looked like they would be an extremely good coach who was already coaching in the First Division.'' Meanwhile, Beard and his committee are upbeat about coaching plans for next year. Much of what is planned will be revealed during a "get together'' of all-licenced coaches at Palmetto Bay Hotel at 6.30 p.m. tomorrow when they plan to give details of a comprehensive 18-month coaching scheme.

In addition to having dates arranged for future coaching courses and related clinics, the intention is to bring in a top coaching instructor from overseas mainly to assist in the evaluation of the coaching programme that will be implemented here next season.