staff for next season, but Bermuda internationals Kentoine Jennings and Meshach Wade are not amongst them.

The pair signed one-year contracts before the end of the season and will be rejoining the team for pre-season training in July.

Amongst those who will not be returning are former Welsh internationals Nigel Vaughan and Steve Lowndes, goalkeeper Tony Elliott, midfielder Shane Jones and striker Paul Burton.

They join Karl Goddard who recently retired because of a knee injury and three Youth Training Scheme (YTS) players, Leigh Harris, Paul Parker and Mark Davies.

"I'm disappointed for them,'' Jennings said yesterday. "I knew the club was facing some type of financial problems but we (Jennings and Wade) were told before we left that we were still a part of the plans. It's too bad seeing some of the younger players go.'' The departure of the eight players reduces the staff to 17 and according to a recent Hereford newspaper report further cuts will have to be made if United are to sign any new players during the summer.

Next season looks like being a make-or-break season for the two Bermudians as the club seeks to build on a disappointing finish, which saw them in the bottom half of the standings.

"We just have to get things together,'' said Jennings. "It was a great experience for me and I learned a lot but I can only get better. I'll be trying to help the team as much as possible.'' The club is yet to make a decision about who will take over from departing manager John Sillett. Player-coach Greg Downs took over when Sillett announced his intention to quit and has made clear his interest in the post.

Hereford, after flirting with promotion early in the season, finished sixth from the bottom. A 2-1 home loss to Northampton in front of only 1,297 in the season finale was their fifth straight defeat.

Both Jennings and Wade left Hereford before the end of the season, Jennings to prepare for Bermuda's World Cup match with Haiti and Wade because of injury.

They are now getting ready to travel to Haiti for the second leg in two weeks' time.

Bermuda's under-19 national squad suffered their second loss in the CONCACAF Youth Tournament in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Tuesday night when they went down to Costa Rica 4-0.

But there was some improvement from the young Bermudians who trailed 2-0 at the half. Now they will be hoping to get a good result against Trinidad and Tobago tonight in their final Group C match.

"We were able to create a few more chances but once again gave up silly goals,'' said assistant coach Jack Castle.

Bermuda switched from five at the back to a 4-4-2 formation with Stanton Lewis, Kimandi Binns and Otis Steede making up the midfield. "They seemed to be a lot stronger and were able to handle themselves,'' Castle said. "`Kimmy' had an oustanding game while Keishon Smith looked to be the First Division player that he is and Quincey Aberdeen, too.'' Neither Bermuda nor their opponents tonight, Trindad and Tobago, have scored a goal though the Trinidadians managed to draw 0-0 with Costa Rica. A win for Bermuda would lift them off the bottom of the four-team group.

"The guys are going to put their best foot forward to see if we can finish third,'' Castle said. "Bermuda is by far the team everybody is coming out to see. We are a hit with the Canadian fans.'' The Bermuda team return on Saturday.

The long-awaited announcement of the 1991-92 season's Most Valuable Player has been delayed because the Bermuda Football Association will no longer have a prize presentation.

"People don't attend,'' explained BFA administrative assistant Joe L. Brown yesterday. "The only ones who attend are those who have won.'' The Ex-Artillerymen's Association, which annually sponsors the MVP and Young Player of the Year awards, last year made its presentation in conjunction with the BFA's own ceremony.

And though the finalists were announced in early April, it was decided to again combine with the BFA.

Brown added that the presentation was originally scheduled for last Friday at Hamilton Parish. Now, it is planned that a special ceremony be conducted to announce the Coach of the Year as well as the MVP and Young Player of the Year.

The finalists for the senior honour are Mike Dill, Kyle Lightbourne and Sammy Swan of league and FA Cup champions PHC, Andre Hendrickson of Devonshire Colts, Elliott Jennings of North Village and Neil Robinson of Boulevard.

The junior finalists are Dwayne Adams of North Village, Keenan Burchall of Devonshire Colts and Janeiro Tucker of Southampton.