Two of Bermuda's overseas professional soccer players have been placed on the shelf for the rest of English season.

But while Rotherham's Shawn Goater has been forced to the sidelines through a nagging knee injury and can look forward to recuperating and starting fresh next season, an uncertain future awaits his Bermuda national squad teammate Kyle Lightbourne.

Lightbourne was this week shocked with news of his release from English Third Division soccer club Scarborough after just five months there, amid reports of the club being in a precarious position financially.

He was told of his fate in a recent meeting with new team manager Phil Chambers, who has started a major "house-cleaning job'' since taking over from former manager Ray McHale, fired just last month. A total of eight players were purged from the squad this week alone.

Particularly incensing the lanky striker was the manner in which his dismissal was effected and a contract buy-out offer made by the club.

Earlier this year the 24-year-old signed a contract which carried through to the end of the 1993-94 season. However, management offered to pay Lightbourne approximately $1,200, a mere fraction of what he claims to be owed. The contract Lightbourne signed was in the neighbourhood of $25,000.

"I want to be paid up until the end of my contract,'' said a disgusted Lightbourne last night from his hotel. "They've offered me a ridiculous price and expect me to just take it.

"I have a guaranteed contract and I'm willing to fight this and even take it to court...I'm not going to give in until I get my money.

"They must think that I came from nothing, but I told them that I was making a good living before I got up here.'' Lightbourne hinted at the possibility of there being some discrimination against him because he is a foreigner, a point he highlighted by noting how an English-born teammate in a similar predicament was paid almost his full salary.

"I can deal with the club wanting to get rid of me and they go about it using the right system. I was even willing to take half the money if they had come to me in the right way.

"I don't want them to pay me a small fee and that's it. A contract is about having something there to fall back on.

"Right now they're treating the players like dirt and we deserve better.'' The writing was on the wall for Lightbourne almost immediately after Chambers inherited the managerial position, with the Bermudian not seeing action in the past several matches.

A conversation between player and manager revealed little about the player's future on the team, until this week.

The scenario mirrors that of Meshach Wade and Kentoine Jennings, who were axed from Hereford United earlier this year.

It was assumed that Lightbourne would be given the opportunity to feel his way this season and get used to the unfamiliar conditions, thus priming him for next season.

However, it became increasingly obvious that Chambers did not hold Lightbourne in the same regard as did McHale.

Still it is hoped that another team will arrive and sign the Bermudian, who said that he will be writing letters to various clubs in hopes of gaining trials for next season.

Goater, meanwhile, has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from minor knee surgery and has been sent to a sports clinic in Lilleshall, England, for further treatment.

After watching his striker perform in a reserve match, Rotherham's trainer saw that Goater was still favouring the leg a bit and decided it best that he not force his return.

UPSET -- Kyle Lightbourne is especially unhappy with the buy-out offer he has received from Scarborough.