their marching papers by English Third Division club Hereford United after less than two seasons in the South Midlands.

The pair, two of five current overseas professionals, were notified of their release from contracts with the club at a recent meeting with player/coach Greg Downs.

However, the writing had been on the wall ever since the pair were transfer-listed soon after returning to England at the conclusion of Bermuda's World Cup campaign in December.

Adding fuel to the situation was the fact that neither player had been appearing on a regular basis with the first team.

"We've known since the World Cup that he (Downs) wasn't interested in us and it was just a matter of time,'' said Jennings. "He wasn't willing to give us a try.

"It's very different than when (John) Sillett was here. He (Sillett) always looked out for us and gave us the opportunity to play.'' Sillett, ironically, is in Bermuda with a British Airways golfing group but was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Wade, listed as a midfielder, made 27 first-team appearances over the course of his tenure while defender Jennings played in 19 matches.

Each though saw playing time drastically curtailed with the promotion of Downs, after Sillett had resigned prior to the conclusion of the 1991-92 season.

In an article appearing in The Hereford Times Downs spoke of the local duo's departures: "They have a lot of skill but, unfortunately, have been unable to adapt to the rigours of English League soccer.'' Both players strongly disagreed with this statement with Jennings saying: "We have adapted to it. But ever since we came back we haven't been allowed a full game to prove ourselves.

"We'd go out and train well, but nothing we do is good enough for him.'' Meanwhile, Wade, while harbouring no ill feelings toward the club, was just as adamant in his opinion of their ability to compete: "We can do anything the English players can.

"It's just basically kick and run in the Third Division, with teams fighting, trying to get promoted.

"We can tackle and perform just as well as the others.'' The cuts, though, did not stop at the Bermuda pair, as 22-year-old defender Andy Theodosiou will also have to seek alternative employment.

In return, Downs has offered a contract to 21-year-old full-back David Morris, formerly of Bournemouth. Morris recently made his debut against Scarborough, who count another Bermudian Kyle Lightbourne among their members.

Still, Wade and Jennings appear to be taking the recent course of events in stride and are hopeful of resuming their pro careers elsewhere.

"There's no real bad feeling about it,'' said Jennings, who added that they trained with Division Two side Bolton Wanderers and are hopeful of a call-up.

"I feel I'm that much more experienced and have a chance to come back.

"I'm viewing it as a positive, not a negative thing.

"We've had a chance to do something a lot of other players haven't had and still have a chance to return.'' Mark Trott, the local agent for the players, has set up a contingency plan that will have them participating at another club's pre-season camp later this year.

"There is a team -- in fact there are a number of teams - prepared to have a look at Meshach and Kentoine,'' said Trott, the architect of several local players getting overseas trials, the most recent being Lightbourne. "They're finished for this season but I've told them to just hang in there.

"Everything is not lost. They can come back (to Bermuda) and collect themselves and then look at their options.'' KENTOINE JENNINGS -- "...nothing we do is good enough for (Hereford coach Greg Downs).''