been given the thumbs up by one of England's top bosses -- his former West Ham team-mate Harry Redknapp.

Now manager of the club that both played for back in the late 1960s and '70s, Redknapp claims to know a thing or two about soccer at the top level.

And he reckons Bermuda Football Association couldn't have made a better choice.

"I played with Clyde and he was a tremendous player, a fantastic player for West Ham. And I'm pleased to see him back here and involved in the game as a director of coaching,'' said Redknapp. "It's got to be a very, very good move for Bermuda soccer.'' Here for the second successive year to conduct a youth soccer camp at National Stadium, along with another ex-Hammer Frank Lampard (now the club coach) and former England international Alan Hudson, Redknapp believes Best's vast experience as a player will be a major plus for the national team programme.

"Several of the boys from back then have gone on ... in managing and coaching, and most have done well.

"Lampard is my assistant, Billy Bonds is now manager of Millwall, Tommy Taylor is manager at Leyton Orient, to name just a few,'' said Redknapp.

"All have done very well. We all had our day at playing at a high level. And now to see Clyde named director of coaching in his own country, well that must be a fantastic honour for him.'' Redknapp, meanwhile, has been pleased with the high level of skill shown by local youngsters at this week's clinic.

Eleven-year-old Adam Connolly impressed the manager so much last year that the way has been paved for the young Bermudian to travel to West Ham this summer to attend their School of Excellence -- an invitation extended only to a short list of talented players.

"Adam is coming over to join us at West Ham and hopefully he will do well,'' said Redknapp. "He has been over and played in a couple of games. I was very impressed with him.'' "Hopefully we can get some more boys from here. I have seen a couple we would like to take, maybe we should kidnap them,'' he joked.

"We usually work with players who earn $20,000 a week, and now I am coaching kids ... what a difference. I find it harder to push the kids around than I do to push the big stars. These kids here are pushing me around.'' STARS OF THE PAST -- Former English League soccer stars (from left) Harry Redknapp, Alan Hudson and Frank Lampard pictured with young Bermudian Adam Connolly during this week's junior coaching clinic at National Stadium.

Redknapp, West Ham's manager, and club coach Lampard will meet up with Connolly again later this year when the youngster enrols in the London club's School of Excellence.