Devarr Boyles has been named as Bermuda Football Association's (BFA) new youth director and will step down as Devonshire Cougars coach at the end of the season.

Boyles' appointment brings an end to the BFA's lengthy search to fill the full-time role that will see him work closely with technical director Derek Broadley in identifying and nuturing Bermuda's brightest young talent.

The 38-year-old, who won the Premier Division title as Dandy Town coach in 2004, will not officially start his new position until April when he will leave his job as a physical education teacher at Whitney Institute.

Broadley said Boyles impressed the interview panel with his knowledge of the game, coaching skills and believed his background as a teacher made him an obvious choice for the crucial post.

It is thought the candidates who missed out on the job included Boulevard assistant coach Richard Todd and PHC sports chairman Mark Wade.

"The level of the candidates that applied for the position was very high," said Broadley, himself a former teacher in the UK.

"The interviewing panel was impressed with Devarr's knowledge of the game, his experience in working with young children and the way he handles himself.

"He is very hard working, humble and determined.

"A lot of his work will be hands on and part of the interview process was seeing the candidates in action and that's an area where Devarr excelled. Part of the job will include coaching education and with his teaching background he will be ideal for that."

Broadley said the youth director's role could include coaching the women's national team and said Boyles would be handed a remit to completely redevelop the female game.

"The role is vital on many level. We need to redevelop football from the grassroots up and Devarr has worked with children on a regular basis.

"We also need to meet our targets in getting youngsters off to college and Devarr has a first hand experience of that and knows the pitfalls.

"As part of our mandate, having the youth director coach the women's national team was always an optional role and I'll talk to Devarr about it over the next few weeks.

"I'll be using Devarr's local knowledge to bring in a team of local coaches to hone in on some of our national programmes including the women's national team."

Boyles, who also captured the Martonmere Cup, FA Cup, Dudley Eve, Friendship Trophy and Charity Cup during a six-year stint at St. John's Field, said he was 'honoured and privileged' to become youth director.

"We came up with a compromise with the BFA which will see me finish my work at Devonshire Rec. and then that will be it," said the former Old Dominians University student.

"Devonshire Cougars are very happy for me and I'm honoured and privileged to have been given this position.

"I don't think there's any more pressure for me to win silverware at Cougars this season ¿ our performances have improved in our last two matches."

He added: "We'll have national teams from Under 11 to Under 18s.

"I'll take the Under 12s and Derek the Under 11s which will give us a good foundation for the first two years.

"Then we will look for other coaches to take the other teams.

"Initially we need to make sure students receive a good understanding of the game and develop good technique."

Broadley said the BFA's hunt for a national teach coach was ongoing as he wanted more time to see candidates in action before making an appointment.