because both had sent letters asking to be excused, Neville Tyrrell revealed yesterday.

And the BFA president suggested that for future major internationals, the BFA should invoke the right given to them by FIFA to demand the return of their overseas pros.

Plans were made five months before the start of the World Cup campaign to recruit the pair, but as the season unfolded pressure grew on them to stay with their clubs, as both Manchester City and Stoke City were gunning for promotion, he added.

"We received letters from both Kyle and Shaun asking us to excuse them from participating in the qualifying matches during the most critical stage of their careers,'' said Tyrrell's statement.

"Now look at the position they put the BFA and the coaches in when deciding what to do. You have two of your most experienced players, who could have played a major role in our team advancing to the next round, telling you they wished to be excused from playing for Bermuda at this time.'' Tyrrell went on: "A segment of the media together with some members of the general public criticised the BFA for the non-involvement of the overseas pros. We understand the criticism but everyone should realise that we could not force Shaun and Kyle to come back and play against their wishes. The only thing we could have done was to prevent them playing from their clubs overseas.

"Instead of doing this, we attempted to negotiate on the basis of a compromise in that their clubs would return a similar gesture to us as we did for them during our matches against BVI at home and Antigua in Antigua.

Unfortunately things did not work out to our benefit.

"Maybe the approach we should take for the future is that we demand a recall of our professional players and forget what circumstances they are in at the time overseas...had the circumstances been different, I sincerely believe both Shaun and Kyle would have been delighted to represent Bermuda.'' When asked about what planning went into securing the availability of Goater and Lightbourne, Tyrrell said: "We were discussing the issues of the professional players coming home as early as October or November of last year.

"At that time, the standings of the clubs did not reflect the positions they were in by January, February, March. Last year, everyone was available -- `yes, we can play, not a problem'. The clubs were contacted and as soon as we received our schedule from FIFA, everyone was made aware and at that time everybody was ready to get on board.

"When things started to tighten up in the English league, with both Shaun and Kyle's clubs looking for promotion, that's when their positions started to change. I don't want anyone to think there was no prior thought on this issue.'' Asked whether, with hindsight, he thought the BFA had been mistaken in not requesting the return of the country's two top players, Tyrrell said: "I would like to think, as I stated, we will demand and they will come. I don't believe we made a mistake. I think we were just slow in making final decisions.''