Best as Bermuda national soccer coach, the man himself returned to the Island.

Mere coincidence? Or could it be that this trip will finally land Bermuda's most celebrated footballer with the top coaching post in time for the country's return to the Shell/Umbro Tournament in February? Neither General Secretary of the Bermuda Football Association, David Sabir, nor chairman of the coaching committee, Aldwyn Savery -- or even Best himself -- could be reached yesterday as speculation regarding the appointment continued to grow.

But with Bermuda's return to the Caribbean competition just two months away, an appointment has to be made soon, and a training squad put in place.

Best certainly has the playing credentials, having represented English club West Ham United from the late 1960s to 1975 when he joined the North American Soccer League. He also had a brief stint with Dutch club Feyenoord.

One man who would endorse Best's selection is Mark Trott, the last man to coach a senior national team when he was in charge of the Under-23s during the Pan-Am Games in Argentina in 1994. Trott was also part of Gary Darrell's management team during the 1992 World Cup qualifying campaign.

"I think Clyde Best could be a great asset for the team,'' said Trott yesterday. "He's highly respected and the only way you're going to find out what he can do is give him a chance.

"I wouldn't be adverse to him having a chance to prove that he can do the job. If you just went by his professional footballing record alone you would think he has what it takes to do the job.'' Best made his interest in the job known earlier this year when he returned to do some coaching and stayed on for talks with the BFA. In the end, he went back to his home in California without getting the job which has remained vacant since.

Now an appointment appears near, with Sabir confirming earlier this week that further news regarding the country's re-entry into the Caribbean competition would be released soon.

Trott has ruled himself out of the running for the post, although he says he would welcome working alongside someone like Best.

"If they are looking for a very experienced person, then they wouldn't look my way ... but for me or another individual to work alongside and learn the trade.

"Gary had tons of experience, not just as a player but also as a coach and I'm still plying my trade at the local level. It would be a treat one day to be national coach of Bermuda but I'm prepared to wait.''