footballers on the eve of the new season -- even though Kentoine Jennings will miss his team's opening match because of injury.

Shawn Goater and Meshach Wade both look like getting starting roles with their clubs, Rotherham and Hereford United, when the new season begins on Saturday.

Goater has still not signed a new contract with Rotherham, preferring to stay on a week to week contract and wait to see if he can attract any interest from top clubs, especially after a good World Cup run.

"The gaffer came to me with another offer but I haven't accepted,'' Goater explained last night. "I just want to see if there is any interest from a big club. The gaffer wants to keep me happy and I think he's going to start me on Saturday. He's already given me the number nine shirt.'' Rotherham, promoted from the Fourth Division last season and now playing in the Second Division because of the introduction of the Premier League, open their season with an away match against Exeter.

In five pre-season friendlies Goater scored three goals. Two of the matches were against Sheffield Wednesday, which they won 1-0, and Sheffield United which they lost 1-0, and the other three were against non-league teams. One of the matches was against a non-league team in Scarborough and Goater said he saw fellow Bermudian Albert Smith in the stands.

Smith was on trial with Scarborough but stayed behind as Kyle Lightbourne joined the team on a training camp. Smith was unsuccessful in his trials but the club is preparing to sign Lightbourne.

"It's always going to be easier for backs and strikers than midfielders to get a contract,'' believes Goater. He says the style in England isn't conducive to midfielders dwelling on the ball.

"I was trying to get Albie down here for trials with Doncaster but I didn't have the right contact,'' he revealed. "I'm sure he would have been all right at Doncaster.'' Goater is pleased with the way his own game is going and is excited about the new season.

"I've been so confident and can't wait for the season to start. There's a bit of a buzz around the training ground that Shawn Goater is on form.'' Bermuda's World Cup run left the three Bermudians with little time to rest during the off-season. Fortunately for Goater the pre-season training wasn't too demanding.

"In the first couple of days back I was shattered,'' he admitted. "I'm getting back into the swing of it now. We've had a lot of games which is good, rather than running. Today was the last bit of hard running before Saturday.'' After going straight back down to the Fourth Division two years ago, Goater is confident Rotherham can consolidate their place in the Second Division and maybe make a push for promotion this season.

"Looking at the team we've got this is a much more experienced team,'' he said. "I fancy us to get into the play-offs, to finish in the top seven.'' Wade and Jennings are looking for good first full seasons at Hereford.

But while Bermuda captain Wade is expected to start in a midfield role, Jennings will be on the sideline for the home match with Scarborough nursing an ankle injury he received during a testimonial against Manchester United over a week ago.

Manchester United, with their first team in Norway, fielded a number of youngsters in the match which was drawn 1-1. Jennings went off after being injured in the first half. Wade is also just back from injury (thigh) though he did play in the Manchester United match.

Jennings hasn't been able to train since that match, just doing weights and therapy. But the encouraging news is that new manager Greg Downs, the team's player-coach last season, has been trying him in a central defensive role.

The manager is experimenting with a 3-4-3 formation with no fullbacks but with midfielders picking up the wide players.

"Once I get over this injury it will be all go ahead,'' Jennings assured.

"It should be an enjoyable season, we have a few new faces but probably have the youngest team in the league with almost everybody under 24. We also have a small squad of only about 15 pros so it's going to be more demanding.'' Both Wade and Jennings have signed new one year contracts with the clubs so this will be their make-or-break season.