Views in the soccer fraternity are mixed on whether Clyde Best should be retained as technical director or not.

But everyone who spoke to The Royal Gazette when quizzed on the issue agreed on one thing -- the BFA should make the situation clear for the good of football.

Colin Smith, president of Somerset, Best's former club, said: "The BFA need to sit down and reassess the whole situation, that's what they need to do. I truly believe that after three years you don't get rid of somebody like that.

"Actually they should have been thinking long term from the beginning, offering something like a five-year deal, but obviously they were not.'' A Dandy Town spokesman, who didn't wish to be named, said: "I always felt that three years wouldn't be enough time for anybody. Our international soccer programme has been in the doldrums for a long time and we needed more time to get somebody to improve the situation.

"I don't care what title they give Best, he's not hands on with the teams because the coaches under him run them. Whatever title they find for him doesn't really matter.

"But I think they should reconsider the length of his contract because of the positive results that our international squads are getting at various levels.'' St. David's coach Eugene Crockwell said: "Unless the BFA come out and explain in detail why Best should not be given a contract renewal, he should be retained right up until the current World Cup campaign run is over.

"As I see it, the players seem to be responding quite well to his techniques, the results that they have gotten so far clearly show this.

"To bring somebody else in whose techniques will be different doesn't make sense, surely not at this crucial stage.'' Vasco coach John Rebello said he was fed up with the Best contract saga.

"I think it's become a soap opera right now and the BFA have got to make a decision. They keep dragging it out and the public are getting bored of it.

"Either he stays and they give him a contract extension or they let him go.

"If they feel he's done a worthwhile job, they should extend his contract.

But if they feel he hasn't, they should make a decision to let him go and stick by that decision and bring someone else in.

"We've had two good victories in the World Cup and football is on a high, so let's make the decision and let the football go on.

"Someone got up and made an executive decision to let Clyde go three months ago and now, because of public pressure, they're going back on that decision.

If that's the case, they should just get on with it. Come on, give the public something.

"To be honest, I've got two views on it. Clyde and Robert have come in and done a good job and the fruits of their efforts have been there to see in the World Cup.

"At the same time, the BFA have been saying let's turn to the younger generation. And we have some very good young players in the under-23s.

"Looking in that direction, we have some good young coaches like Kenny Thompson and Andrew Bascome and maybe it's time to give them a chance and bring in a whole pile of youth and take the programme forward that way. Maybe it is time to bring in young blood and give them a shot at the senior level.'' Kenny Thompson, coach of North Village and the under-15 national team, said: "I'm trying to stay out of the situation. The politics are for the politicians and I'm a technician.'' Reacting to Rebello's suggestion that Thompson himself might be a candidate to replace Best, Thompson said: "I'm very passionate about football and I'd love to be involved in football as a profession. That's a dream I always had as a player and naturally that still applies as a coach.

"Having said that, I don't tend to worry about things I can't control. At this time I can say that no-one has approached me, no-one has said anything to me about it and I'm a teacher at CedarBridge and I'm happy teaching.''