News that Bermuda Football Association may adopt the `Golden Goal' for cup competitions this season has been greeted with mixed reaction from First Division players and coaches.

Coaches Gary Darrell and Mark Trott of Southampton Rangers and Dandy Town, who have both experienced `sudden death' as a means of breaking a deadlock in extra time, give the new initiative the thumbs up.

But new PHC coach Jack Castle and Vasco striker Corey Hill both have reservations about bringing the new ruling into local soccer.

"When I was playing in the North American Soccer League (with the Washington Diplomats) that's how they played their overtime in the last few years,'' said Darrell, a former coach of the Bermuda national team.

"The first team to score, game over. I think it will make it a little bit exciting. I don't know if the idea behind it is to just get a result or what.'' Darrell admitted, however, that extra pressure would be put on teams not to make a mistake in extra time that would prove fatal. "That's the only thing that makes it difficult ...there is no chance of recovery,'' said Darrell.

Trott was coach of the Bermuda Under-23 team which beat Jamaica in a Pan-Am Games qualifier in Jamaica in 1992 in sudden-death extra-time. The memory of Raynel Lightbourne scoring the clincher is still vivid in Trott's mind.

"I experienced it in the Pan-Am Games qualifications and I don't think there is anything wrong with the Golden Goal,'' said Trott.

"What you literally do is give the teams an extra-time period anyway but the difference is when a team scores the match is over. It can be harsh if, say two or three minutes into extra-time, a team scores and the match is over, which doesn't give you recourse to come back.

"But by the same token it may make it more exciting for the spectators with the teams looking to come out and get that winner. In the negative aspect both teams can sit back and go for the penalty kicks.

"It makes everybody, from officials to players, aware of what can happen if you make a mistake. You won't get a second chance.'' Lightbourne's goal in Jamaica came a minute from the end of extra-time, leaving the Jamaicans downhearted.

"If you look at that situation, Jamaica were dominating the match for probably about 110 of the 119 minutes but we got one chance,'' said Trott.

"In a way it's fair because both teams had the same amount of time to try to decide the match and the team that scores first is rewarded. Jamaica had enough chances to settle the match but our one golden chance happened to come in the 119th minute.'' Corey Hill, who will play for Vasco against Boulevard in the Charity Cup in September when the new ruling could be introduced, has doubts about the Golden Goal in local competitions.

"I think the reason why it was set up in Euro '96 was because they were set for time,'' said Hill. "But down here I don't think it's necessary because we're not pushed for time.

"I honestly think we need to be careful, we have to assess the whole situation because it could be detrimental. The Golden Goal is a good idea but I don't think we need it in our domestic programme.'' Hill says one change which could be made would be to schedule all cup finals for the National Stadium, even the Charity Cup which takes place at club grounds.

"It's the opening game of the season and you should want the first game to be at the National Stadium,'' said Hill.

"All our major trophies should be (played for) at our National Stadium like they do in England with the Charity Shield being played at Wembley.

"They need to think of the people involved. They should be playing on the best pitch in the Island. These are the things they need to look at if we want to improve our programme.'' Jack Castle, who will take over the coaching job at PHC this season, does not think the Golden Goal will benefit the local programme.

"I'm not too keen on it,'' he admitted yesterday. "I think the BFA needs to have a look at it, they haven't asked any of the coaches about it.

"FIFA have just brought it out and they said they are going to stick with it but they haven't said we have to implement it. Maybe we should just leave things just as they are.'' Like Hill, Castle thinks the new rule should only be used in those cup competitions where the match has to be settled, such as the Charity Cup. But in the FA Cup, teams from lower divisions consider it an accomplishment taking a First Division team to a replay.

"They just seem to be throwing so much at the clubs and the players,'' Castle added. "They want to start the league early and they want to make all these changes overnight.

"If they are going to introduce it I just hope they introduce it for specific tournaments.

"There is nothing wrong with having a replay, it gives both teams an opportunity to go back and assess the situation and try to improve on it. For the competitions that don't have replays then I don't have a problem with that.'' Commercial Division team Exiles will be holding a meeting/training session for all current players and those interested in playing for the team this season tonight at Shelly Bay Field, starting at 6.30 p.m.

COREY HILL -- "We have to assess the whole situation because it could be detrimental.''