Lightbourne, Neil Paynter and Albert Smith at troubled English League club Northampton Town.

Mark Trott of the Bermuda Football Association said yesterday he was still hopeful the trio would be welcome in Northampton this July.

"If they can sign on quality players without it costing a lot of money, it's to their advangtage,'' he said, expressing the view that the Cobblers would survive the storm and continue operating next season.

Trott added that the addition of overseas players often helped clubs floundering in the lower divisions because it encouraged the crowds to come out to see the new talent.

Speaking from Northampton yesterday, new player/manager Phil Chard said: "I would love to have the three players over here but until I speak to Mark (Trott) I can't commit myself to anything.

"Finances are really tight and the administrators are holding the purse strings.'' Chard, who took over on Friday after the dramatic sacking of manager Foley in a drastic bid to cut costs at the struggling Fourth Division club, said: "Everything's in turmoil at the moment, but if we can agree to certain things I see no reason why the trials can't go ahead.'' Chard said that, given Northampton's current predicament, cost would be the deciding factor. He said that Foley had been involved in the negotiations but that he, himself, was unsure of the financial arrangements surrounding the proposed month-long trials.

Trott, who is hoping to speak with Chard this week, said the club had just agreed to provide room and board for the three players, who would be funding all other aspects of the trip to England themselves.

"It's up to them now,'' said Trott. "But I'm hopeful we can sort something out.'' And Chard, whose team finish their league programme against Crewe on Saturday, said: "It will be a great opportunity for the lads if we can come to some arrangement. We have six YTS (Youth Training Scheme) lads in the team at the moment.'' Nine Northampton players were sacked on Friday along with Foley, his assistant manager Joe Kiernan, and youth team boss Billy Best. New administrators at the club implemented the sweeping cuts in a bid to save 350,000 over the next four months.

Trott has also been negotiating with another English Fourth Division club, Scarborough, who say they would be prepared to offer trials to Lightbourne, Paynter and Smith should the Northampton deal fall through.

WAITING IN THEWINGS -- Kyle Lightbourne, left, and Neil Paynter pictured during Sunday's FA Cup Final, hope they will still be heading to Northampton Town for trials with Albert Smith.