as far as the first round proper in 1993, has thrown his full support behind Clyde Best's call for tours and training abroad in preparation for the preliminary rounds of the competition next year.

Darrell, the former national coach, feels it was a similar build-up campaign, involving tours and extensive training schemes, that enabled Bermuda to make the first round in '93. And he believes the current squad should be afforded the same privilege.

Bermuda's current director of coaching Best has already advised Bermuda Football Association that he wants to take the national senior team to Germany and England for matches and training.

And now the BFA and their financial committee are exploring that possibility to see what cash can be made available.

"I certainly can understand his reasons for wanting to do this,'' said Darrell. "I think it is necessary that they have more games. You have the players under better control when you are away together, you obviously get more done to get the players prepared when you have them on tour.'' Darrell attributed the 1993 success to the BFA's support of the team, mainly that of then president Donald Dane who ensured that the squad remained active in the months and weeks leading up to the qualifying rounds.

Being a former coach Dane, according to Darrell, was well qualified to understand the importance of having the team involved in as many international matches as possible.

"One thing Donald Dane insisted on while he was there was that once we put the teams in training and kept them there year around we were forced to find activity for them and that's what happened,'' said Darrell.

"It just worked out that when the World Cup came around we had enough activity to know that we could compete with the players from that area in the Caribbean and Central and North America.

"It's clear that back in 1993 we had a different situation. We were active year-round for two to three years leading up to the World Cup and had games played fairly often -- as many as three to four games a year. What happened in the World Cup was a result of our good build-up to it.

"But Clyde certainly hasn't had that same luxury and without it, it's going to be tougher getting the boys match fit. The BFA had cash limits then, but what we realised from our World Cup run was that the funds didn't come rolling in until the wagon was on its way.'' Best has informed the BFA that he wishes to take the senior team to Europe, namely Germany where he hopes to train with Bayern Munich and then visit England, probably in the Manchester area.

He pointed out that he was focussing on these countries because it was important for the local players to play top flight soccer in countries where the level of soccer was higher than in the Caribbean and Central America.

Darrell said that Best had played in those countries and probably had his reasons for going there.

"To go that way, to Germany and England, I am sure that he has his reasons.

He is familiar with the area. You recall that our former director of coaching, Burkhard Ziese toured Germany with the under-21s and that worked out very well for them as a source of preparation,'' he said.

"I think it's probably not so important where they go. The important thing is that they will be together for a period of time that will prove to be beneficial in getting them ready for a major tournament.''