Bermuda may include some over-age players for the Pan-Am Games next month in Argentina, but overseas professionals Shawn Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and David Bascome are not likely to be among them.

Bermuda will be allowed three players over the age of 23 for the Pan-Am finals. But the two England-based players, Goater and Lightbourne, confirmed yesterday that they would be reluctant to disrupt their league season, knowing that time away from their clubs could jeopardise their chances of being transferred to a team in one of the higher divisions.

Last week Bascome, who is playing for Harrisburg Heat in the indoor league in the United States, said his chances of being released by his club were remote especially with the playoffs in March, around the same time as the Pan-Am Games.

Goater and Lightbourne, top scorers at Rotherham and Walsall respectively, have been in a slump lately. Both are still waiting for their first goal in 1995, Goater not having netted in six games and Lightbourne in five.

"I've not been scoring the goals but I'm still involved with the team which I'm happy with,'' said Goater, who was recently back in Bermuda for his cousin's funeral.

He admitted that even that short break knocked him off his stride. "When you're doing well you don't like to break it up because it's hard to get back in and get yourself going again. With the way things are going now I feel I have just as good a chance as anyone to get a move.

"It's very difficult to just up and go but I'm always happy to play for my country, you know that.'' Rotherham, trying to steer clear of the relegation zone in the Second Division, came from 4-2 down on Saturday to force a 4-4 draw with Chester to remain in mid-table. And with Lightbourne's team winning 1-0 against Mansfield to return to second place in the Third Division, there is a good chance that both Bermudians could be in the same division next season -- providing one or both of don't get transferred before then.

Both Rotherham and Walsall face important matches next month during Pan-Am Games time with Walsall away to division leaders Carlisle and Rotherham at home to Brentford who are presently in second place. Both those matches are scheduled for March 18, three days after Bermuda's final first round match against Costa Rica on the 15th.

Goater discovered in 1992, when he took part in Bermuda's World Cup campaign, that it was difficult to get back into the Rotherham team on his return.

"I was home for close to two months and the club was really looking forward to me coming back and getting back into things but it was so hard,'' explained the striker.

Goater is Rotherham's leading scorer with 18 goals and with 18 more matches remaining he is still confident he can reach his new target of 30 goals this season.

"In the situation that I'm in I'll have to give that a lot of thought,'' he said of the Pan-Am possibility. "Had I been playing in a higher division I don't think there would be any question about it.

"As they say out of sight, out of mind. I have to force clubs to come in and buy me by scoring regularly and them seeing my name in the papers every week.'' Added Goater: "The boss has pulled me aside and said `you're still playing well and you just need that goal to get you going again'.

"Before Christmas I was doing very well and I was saying that I hadn't had a bad spell and if it was to occur then to carry on being positive. The boss has said I just need a goal because my game hasn't changed that much and he's happy with that.'' Bermuda Under-23 coach Mark Trott was instrumental in getting both Goater and Lightbourne to England on initial trials and he admitted recently that he was reluctant to disrupt their progress by taking them to Argentina.

"As it happens I just found out that he's been given the job and I would like to congratulate him as well,'' added Goater. "He's been a loyal servant to the BFA and in the last three or four years he's really done a lot and I'm happy for him.'' Lightbourne said he hadn't been approached by the BFA to determine his availability next month.

"I'm sure they are probably looking at the situation we're in and hopefully will make the right decision,'' he said yesterday.

Lightbourne has played a big role in Walsall's promotion push this season, leading the team's scoring with 16 goals in all competitions. He, too, has set his sights on 30 goals.

"Things are boiling up, especially with us winning on Saturday,'' said Lightbourne. "This is only our second league game of the year, while we had games called off for two weeks running.

"I had a chance on Saturday which I put wide of the post from outside the box which on another day would have gone in. But I've just got to keep working hard.

"I'm happy with the way I played, I felt I gave 100 per cent which is what they ask for. It's just a matter of getting on the scoresheet and going from there. I just need to get that one in '95.''