team's promotion-winning campaign in Honduras this year.

And Kelly Holland will continue her tenure as skipper of the Federation Cup team following Bermuda's most successful ever venture into the competition this year.

Both posts are advertised on a yearly basis and there was little surprise that the executive of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association gave their approval for both to continue.

In fact, Bean was the only applicant for the Davis Cup job and the only opposition to Holland was her predecessor in the Fed Cup hot seat, Jerome Bradshaw.

BLTA president David Lambert felt the lack of opposition told its own story.

"Quite a few coaches qualified to do the jobs expressed an interest verbally, but did not apply,'' said Lambert.

"By not applying, they effectively showed an endorsement of Steve and Kelly, whom they see as a good combination.

"Steve Bean's first year as captain was 1997 and next year will be his fifth year in the job. He has been captain for two promotions.

"Kelly is coming off a successful competition in El Salvador and the executive feel there is something working well there. Next year will be her third year as Fed Cup captain.'' Bean's four-man team of Ricky Mallory, James Collieson, Jenson Bascome and Dean Mello clinched promotion to American Zone Group III by winning five ties out of six. Only host nation Honduras finished above Bermuda in the tournament in March.

Bean's captaincy skills were tested by the occasional unavailability of Mallory due to a freak neck injury and his juggling of the team proved successful.

Holland led the Fed Cup team to a 10th place finish out of 16 countries in May in El Salvador. But the all-teenage team of Zarah DeSilva, Danielle Paynter, Tara Lambert and Danielle Downey became the first Bermuda Fed Cup team to register more than one victory in a tournament, with triumphs over Jamaica and Panama.

Lambert said he hoped former Fed Cup captain Bradshaw would not be put off after his application to regain the post proved unsuccessful.

"Jerome is one of those members of the executive who travels every year with the Fed Cup team,'' said Lambert. "We hope he will express an interest in the future.''