Former professional star Clyde Best was yesterday confirmed as coach/manager of the Bermuda team for the upcoming Shell/Umbro Caribbean Cup in February.

And the ex-West Ham striker wasted no time in getting down to the task at hand, as he met with players last night to discuss their "involvement in the national programme, their responsibilities and the terms and conditions by which they will continue to be involved in the programme''.

A training squad of 31 players has been named in preparation for the team's qualifying matches in Jamaica from February 12-19 when they will play against Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands.

Included in that list are 10 members of the squad which enjoyed an impressive run in the World Cup quialifying campaign in 1992.

But with the coach of that team, Gary Darrell, unable to take on the job because of a heavy workload in his carpet business, the BFA looked to Best to fill the position. Darrell, however, has offered to lend his assistance to Best whose coaching staff will be announced soon.

"The BFA is pleased that Mr Best has agreed to spearhead our efforts to rejuvenate our international programme,'' said BFA general secretary David Sabir last evening.

Best is acknowledged as Bermuda's most successful soccer export, having played for eight years with top English club West Ham from the late 1960s to mid-1970s. He then wound up his career in the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

It was from his home in California that Best first showed interest in returning home to Bermuda to coach. He has not lived regularly on the Island since leaving almost 30 years ago as a 17-year-old to join the Hammers where he played alongside such England greats as Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst.

Now he takes on a new challenge as Bermuda's senior team return to the international area for the first time since the World Cup campaign.

It was in 1994 during the Under-23s successful bid to qualify for the Pan Am Games that local football was rocked by the Miami Seven scandal when seven team members were allegedly caught with marijuana on a flight from Jamaica to Miami.

February's trip to Jamaica will be the first visit by a Bermuda football team to that island since the arrests in 1994. And the expectations of the players were spelled out in very clear terms at last night's meeting.

"All players were informed of the BFA's Athlete Assistance Programme (AAP) and the BFA's goals for having a national drug-free programme,'' said Sabir.

"The final composition of the training squad and the team of players that will represent Bermuda in Jamaica will have conformed to the policies of the BFA national programme and the AAP.'' League champions Vasco have seven players in the squad with Devonshire Colts and Dandy Town having four each.

Clifford Roberts of Hotels is the only player outside the First Division to be named while the four overseas-based players, Shawn Goater, Kyle Lightbourne, Paul Cann and David Bascome are also listed.

Full squad: Vasco -- Timmy Figureido, Shawn Smith, Kentoine Jennings, Earl Richardson, Voorhees Astwood, Corey Hill, Irving Burgess.

North Village -- Dwayne Adams, Michael Hansey, Nakia Smith Devonshire Colts -- Troy Hall, Shannon burgess, Jahmel Samuels, Mark Ray Boulevard -- Leroy Stevens, Neil Robinson, Dwight Warren Hotels -- Clifford Roberts PHC -- Stanton Lewis, Dano Outerbridge, Otis Steede Dandy Town -- Lionel Furbert, Reggie Tucker, Carlos Smith, Darron Simons St. David's -- Keith Jennings Southampton Rangers -- Ascento Russell Professionals -- Paul Cann, David Bascome, Kyle Lightbourne, Shawn Goater.

CLYDE BEST -- appointed manager/coach of Bermuda's national squad.