The dream of having a professional team playing out of Bermuda could become reality within a month.

Shaun Goater ? in partnership with Kyle Lightbourne and Paul Scope ? is behind a bid to put what amounts to the national team in the USL Division Two, and The Goat is feeling even more positive about the ambitious scheme after a trip to the US.

Goater, who retired from a long and sparkling career in the UK pro leagues earlier this year, headed over to Richmond, Virginia last weekend to watch the title play-off in the league Bermuda hope to join as soon as next season.

?I was very impressed with what I saw, it was a higher standard than I was anticipating,? he said after watching the Richmond Kickers defeat the Charlotte Eagles 2-1.

?I think it is the perfect standard for our guys. It is a better level than the guys are used to playing at but it is just what we are looking for in terms in moving the standard on in Bermuda and exposing our players.

?I really do think we could get a lot out of it.?

As well as watching the match, along with more than 3,000 spectators, Goater met with senior league officials to discuss the progress of the Bermuda bid ? and revealed an announcement could be made within a month.

?I had some productive discussions with a couple of league officials,? continued the former Manchester City talisman who is close friends with national team coach and fellow former pro Kyle Lightbourne.

?Of course they had some concerns and some questions, some of which were about costs and the logistics of bringing in a team from an Island with expensive travel costs and very expensive hotels.

?We talked through a lot of things and he was very positive about our possible involvement. We should hear something in the next three or four weeks and I?m excited about this and I hope we can achieve what we are setting out to do.?

A Puerto Rico side have been playing in the league for a couple of years now, paving the way for a possible Bermuda entry.

The extra travel distances place an additional financial burden on the home club and away games are played in swings rather than just individual trips.

The venture is not expected to be a moneymaking one but Goater is confident that by entering the league it can help Bermuda football long term.

?It gives our players a chance to play in a professional environment and gives them regular games,? continued Goater.

?I think it can really make a difference for us when it comes to competing with some of the top sides in the region who have professional players and professional leagues operating in their own countries.?

Meanwhile Goater, who admits to not having trained at all since retiring from the pro game, is deliberating whether to make a local comeback as Lightbourne has done for PHC in the Commercial League.

?I am looking into it and I am trying to decide whether to join North Village or Robin Hood,? he said.

?Although at the moment I have done no training and have probably put on a few pounds so I am not sure if they?ll want me anyway.?

The Goat is also working on the UK release of his autobiography ?Feed the Goat? which is set to be launched in Bermuda in October.