the importance of total commitment from the Island's senior players in his bid to revamp the national programme.

And those in the 40-strong senior squad will be told in no uncertain terms that they either do things the `Best way' or not at all.

"It's true that you don't teach an old dog new tricks. But I think you can learn to control the players by implementing certain things and certain methods of playing that they have to apply to,'' said Best during a lengthy interview this week.

"You've got to remember being in charge of a soccer programme you are the one who is in command, you are the one who has to make people understand that this is the way it's going to be.

"You can't stray away from that. There's no sense in a player saying that he wants to do it `this way' when you want to do it some other way. If you've got somebody who doesn't agree with what you are trying to do, then they are no good for the programme.

"If I'm going to try and implement something and he's going to go against what I want, then he's no good for me or the programme.'' Best accepts the modern day player is vastly different from those in his day, both in attitude and approach.

"Today's player needs to be more honest with himself, he has to realise that nobody's going to give him anything,'' added Best. "Anything you achieve, you have to earn.

"The big problem I see with players is dishonesty. If a bad pass is made they try to put the blame on the person who is receiving the ball.

"Talking back to the coach, lacking discipline and players simply doing a lot of things they shouldn't be doing are situations that exist here.'' On the international front, Best also accepts Bermuda are lagging behind in terms of what should be expected from the players.

"What we are asking players to do in Bermuda right now is something we shouldn't have to be asking. When you get involved internationally, the players should already be equipped with the fundamentals, able to go out and do the task at hand. And in Bermuda right now we don't have that.

"We're having to teach the players to have a good first touch, to move off the ball, to defend tightly ... but all this stuff should have been taught at a younger age. So now we have to try and fine tune the players and get them to understand the fundamentals. To a lot of the older players that might be boring, but we have to do it.'' Despite these problems, Best remains convinced he can shape a successful national squad over the next few years.

"I was brought up the simple way. Soccer is a simple game. It's a basic game.

If you learn to do the basic things well, you won't have too many problems.

"Right now I don't see too many players who have these basic tools. This is something we have to work on.''