proposed plan for the training camp for the Bermuda national team goes ahead.

It is a situation, obviously, of concern to the clubs who, on paper at least, look like being the main challengers for the major honours.

The four clubs between them have 20 of the 32 players currently in the squad, which is preparing for the upcoming World Cup second-round group matches against El Salvador, Canada and Jamaica.

"It's a difficult situation because if I were the national coach I would want as much opportunity as possible to have my players with me,'' said Dandy Town coach Robert Calderon, who has also been assisting national coach Gary Darrell.

As a former Bermuda captain, Calderon recognises the importance of preparing properly for international competition. But possibly losing five key players for about two months also has Calderon wondering about how it will affect his team's first-half fortunes.

"When you take players like Neil Paynter, Paul Cann, Lloyd Christopher, Wayne Campbell and Voorhees Astwood out of our team it becomes seriously depleted,'' said Calderon.

College student Devarr Boyles is another Dandy Town player in the squad of 32 while Village have seven -- Kevin Grant, Elliott Jennings, new signings Albert Caisey, Shawn Smith and Phillip Clarke. The others, Dwayne Adams and Damon Wade, are in school abroad.

The three Boulevard players in the squad are Leroy Stevens, Albert Smith and Neil Robinson. Both PHC's goalkeepers, Carlyle Crockwell and Ty Williams, are in the squad as well as forwards Kyle Lightbourne and Sammy Swan.

During the proposed camp, which at one time was believed to involve the players being based in Florida, local clubs will be without players for the Martonmere Cup, Dudley Eve Trophy and league fixtures. "If they're going to take my players for 10 weeks the league has to be revamped,'' Calderon said.

"If the World Cup is the priority, fine, but they'll have to revamp the league accordingly. They'll have to modify the league programme in a big way.'' Calderon feels that clubs like Somerset and PHC would be at an unfair advantage by not having lost more than one or two players because of World Cup commitments.

"In a way I feel we're being penalised for having good players,'' he added.

He does stress, however, that he fully supports Bermuda's World Cup venture.

"I'm prepared to compromise in a big way,'' he said. "None of my players would be required to train with the club, just the national team, but be available when the club needs them. I'm encouraging my players to make national squad sessions because I want them to go as far as possible.

"But what happens if -- and of course everybody hopes we do -- we qualify for the next round, which has to be completed by April? We could conceivably have players lost to us for the entire season. If that happens the league championship will not be reflective of the best team by April.'' Calderon only decided to stay on as Town coach because of renewed enthusiasm following the signings of Walter Musson, Stevie Wade, Ricardo Tucker, Franklyn Simmons, Shivaughn Smith and the availability for the whole season of former college students Paynter, Cann and Christopher.

"That made my decision to stay with the club a lot easier,'' Calderon admitted.

The Bermuda team will use Miami as a training base during their two-and-a-half weeks out of Bermuda for the three away matches in November. They will return immediately to Miami after the opening match in El Salvador on November 1 and again after the Jamaica match on November 8.

ROBERT CALDERON.