Bermuda striker Shawn Goater is close to accepting an offer from Second Division club Bristol City, The Royal Gazette has learned.

And an unnamed Second Division team has also been showing some interest in Bermuda's other England-based professional, Kyle Lightbourne. Both players are out of contract with their clubs, Rotherham and Walsall, and after a successful season last year when both netted 24 goals, clubs are apparantly taking note.

On the opening day of the soccer camp he runs with fellow professional David Bascome, Goater confirmed yesterday that Bristol City manager Joe Jordon had been in touch with both him and his agent Mark Georgevic. An agreement apparantly has already been reached with Rotherham United over a fee.

Whether Goater accepts the offer will depend on whether he receives any offers from a club in either the Premier League or First Division.

Goater said no decision is likely to be made until he returns to England next Thursday.

"On the first day in which clubs can contact players they (Bristol City) called (Georgevic) at 9 a.m. and since then five or six times,'' Goater explained. Jordan has also contacted Goater in Bermuda.

"The fact that Joe Jordon is someone who has played at a high level, I'm very flattered and honoured about that (approach). At the same time I'm still waiting to see if there is a possibility of moving up another division.'' Goater, who has been linked with a few clubs in the last couple of years, turned down the chance to join Bradford City last year because they were in the same division as Rotherham and he wanted to move up, not sideways.

Bradford are now in the First Division, having gained promotion, and Goater, 26, accepts his best chance of getting out of the Second Division could be via the promotion route with the right club.

"They (Bristol City) are a much bigger club than Rotherham, with a lot more ambition,'' said Goater.

"Financially they are better payers and at the end of the day that would be one of the reasons for a lateral movement.'' Jordon has made it quite clear that he wants to sign Goater to either a two or three year contract.

"He's on holiday until the (July) 11th which is around the time that I get back and when I arrive I'll give myself two days in England to sit down with my agent so we can discuss everything,'' said Goater.

Goater is impressed with the facilities at Bristol City, a former member of the old First Division.

The fact Marcus Stewart, the top scorer in the Second Division last season with 30 goals for Bristol Rovers, has not been snapped up by a Premier club put things in perspective for Goater. Stewart is linked to a half-million pound move to First Division Huddersfield Town.