Better preparation is the only way to improve Bermuda's Davis Cup performance, said captain Steve Bean after his team were relegated at the weekend.

The team of James Collieson, Donald Evans, Ricky Mallory and Jenson Bascome were last night due to fly out of Cuba, where they suffered five defeats in five days and lost their place in American Zone Group Three.

Bean's sole aim for the campaign had been consolidation after the team had won promotion last year, but despite their best efforts, survival proved beyond them.

While the captain believed he had enjoyed total commitment from the players, he conceded that there was much to learn from the tough opponents who had consigned Bermuda to an instant return to Group Four.

"The teams who did well all had players playing on a full-time basis,'' said Bean. "For example, Honduras had three players all playing on the Futures circuit, who went over to Europe in the summer.

"Then they had a week or two at training camp before the tournament. That makes all the difference. Our guys get together once a year for Davis Cup and they were still getting used to short sets, bigger balls and conditions on the first day, when our opponents were all ready to go.'' Bean felt his team had, however, shown enough ability to compete at Group Three level.

"We lost to Jamaica, but both singles matches we could have won,'' said the captain. "We competed in all our matches. I believe we have the ability for this level, they are no better than us, just better prepared.'' Bean said several steps could be taken, finances permitting, to improve the preparation of future Davis Cup teams.

"I would like to see our team in training all year round,'' said Bean. "That is what is required for this level of competition.

"It would be nice to have visiting teams over to Bermuda and then us go over to them. If we could do that, it would give the guys motivation to train all the year. And we need to get together earlier before the tournament and go to training camp.'' Bean also issued a wake-up call to juniors who had hopes of making the Davis Cup team.

"In Jenson and James, we have youth, and in Ricky, Donald and Michael (Way), we still have guys in their 30s capable of playing Davis Cup.

"In the near future, we need to start seeing younger players coming through, otherwise our standards are going to drop too low for Group Four.

"Younger players looking to make the team, like Chris Watson, Daniel Miller, Jovan Whitter and Ryan Swan, should now be seeing light at the end of the tunnel.'' BLTA president David Lambert paid tribute to the players and how hard they had worked in trying circumstances.

"The BLTA want James, Donald, Ricky and Jenson to know that we are proud of them and that the people of Bermuda should be proud of them,'' said Lambert.

"They are disappointed because they were representing 60,000 people back home and they badly wanted to succeed.

"Those guys left everything out there on the court. They worked hard, competed hard and every point was tough.'' One item on Bean's wishlist could come to fruition some time next year, added Lambert.

"I've known the Jamaica captain Douglas Burke for a number of years and he has expressed an interest in bringing a team to Bermuda for a challenge match,'' he said.

"And they could bring a women's team as well as the men, which would also help our Fed Cup team.''