Scott Morton has ruled out a return to Dandy Town as he wants to devote all his energy on preparing Bermuda Under-23s for their Pan-Am and Olympic qualifiers.

Morton stepped down as Hornets coach after their FA Cup final loss to Boulevard Blazers and believes working at both the domestic and international level would be a conflict of interest.

He watched his Under-23s win their first game against USL-D2 opposition by beating Charlotte Eagles 2-0 in their final match of the summer at BFA Field last Friday.

Bermuda's goalscorers were X'Roads' Uthmani Talbot and Baltimore Blast trialist Angelo Simmons.

Morton plans to spend next season monitoring the progress of his Under-23 squad's Bermuda-based players in Premier and First Division matches as well identifying those who slipped through the net.

"I'll definitely not be returning as coach of Dandy Town next season," said Morton. "I don't think a national team coach should also be coaching at a domestic club.

"I want to be able to view games as a neutral as I think subconsciously you always favour your own players when you're working at a club. I take my duties as a national team coach very seriously and want to fully focus on my job. I don't aim to repeat what's been done before and hope to take this team to a level where they have never previously been."

Neither FIFA nor CONCACAF have confirmed dates for the upcoming Pan-Am and Olympic qualifiers, but as far as Morton is concerned the groundwork started as soon as he was appointed Under-23 coach in May.

"We'll take a break for a few weeks and then return to training when the season starts. Our priority is to prepare for the Pan-Am and Olympic qualifiers and I think we've come a long way playing against the professional teams this summer.

"Each match we showed progress and we've built up a useful database of players both overseas and on the Island."

One player Morton is hoping to nail his colours to the Bermuda mast is United States-based striker Justin Watson. The 18-year-old, who has represented the US at youth level, returned briefly to Bermuda last month and attended two training sessions with the Under-23s.

Morton said he was impressed with the pacey striker and would be speaking to both Watson and his family about his future availability. Watson grew up in Bermuda and came through Devonshire Colts' ranks but moved to South Carolina when he was 11.

"Justin showed as lot of promise but unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see him in a match situation," Morton said. "He had very quick reactions and possessed that unpredictability that all good striker have.

"We will be talking with him and his family to see what his situation is. Hopefully our players learned something from him during his two sessions with us."

Bermuda Under-23s results

Lost 6-0 v Harrisburg City Islanders

Lost 4-0 v Richmond Kickers

Lost 4-1 v Wilmington Hammerheads

Lost 1-0 v Crystal Palace Baltimore

Lost 2-1 v Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Won 2-0 v Charlotte Eagles