Kwame Steede has stepped down as player/coach of Devonshire Cougars to enable him to concentrate on his playing role, club president Craig Clarke confirmed yesterday.

The creative midfielder reluctantly replaced Devarr Boyles who quit to become Bermuda Football Association's youth director at the end of last season.

Steede leaves his post with the defending champions in third place in the Premier Division standings, just three points behind leaders Boulevard.

Clarke said he greatly appreciated the difficult task Steede had performed and commended him on a job well done during his short stint at the helm.

"Mr. Steede has stepped down as coach to concentrate on his football," said Clarke. "I think the team will be okay, he's still a young player and we as a club have allowed him to step down.

"He told us the reason why and it would be beneficial for the club to have him solely focus on his performances on the pitch.

"We didn't have a problem with this decision as we knew it was always going to be a tough job to do, but he is one for the future as he has done an excellent job. We are still in striking distance of the league. Yes, we have faltered in cup competitions but at the end of the day sometimes being a coach brings extra pressure and we commend him for his effort. Maybe in the near future he can come back and do the job."

Back in August Bermuda international Steede insisted he was not the long-term answer to Cougars' coaching dilemma.

He told The Royal Gazette: "Don't call me coach. I believe we have a permanent coach (coming in) and I don't think I'll be taking the reins.

"Obviously I'll always be here to help but I think there will be a permanent coach in place (soon)."

Clarke believes assistant coaches Gary Mallory and Cyril (Dago) Steede can steady the ship as the search for Steede's successor begins.

He added that Cougars had a short-list of candidates, some of them who had already been approached in pre-season.

"I have confidence in assistant coaches Gary Mallory and Cyril Steede that they can get the job done until we find a new coach," he said.

"They have both been around the players for a number of years and I don't see any reason why things won't continue as planned.

"We have a shortlist of some coaches who had been contacted previously to take over the reins.

"So it is my wish to have someone in place for the new year, or even by the Trinidad Under-20 match just after Christmas."

Cougars qualified for next year's Concacaf Champions League when they lifted the Premier Division title last term.