second vice-president Reginald Pearman, left the Island for England this week on a mission believed to be two-fold.

While the trip will allow the pair to take part in a regular International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in London, it will also give them the opportunity to talk to former English Test players who have expressed an interest in the recently advertised post of Bermuda national coach.

James declined to discuss his plans before departing other than pointing out that the ICC meeting would be his second since becoming president three years ago.

"It's simply a regular ICC meeting that we will be attending but we don't envision getting into any discussions about the coaching job while there,'' he said.

However, sources have revealed that there has been some interest in the post expressed by English cricketers and that it was anticipated that James and Pearman would attempt to meet with them while in England.

The Englishmen are understood to have first heard about the coaching post via media stories on the Internet a few months ago .. .long before the Board advertised locally.

It is understood that at least four letters were sent to the Board making enquiries, along with several others mainly from the West Indies.

James said the number of quality coaches who expressed an interest meant the Board would not have to advertise outside the Island.

"We certainly don't intend to advertise any more, not here or overseas because we are satisfied with what we have to date and there is no real reason to do anything further in this regard,'' he said.

He refused to give any names of the ex-Test players who had contacted the Board about the post, claiming that it would be insensitive to do so when many of them were already currently employed.

The delay in appointing a coach now means that it is unlikely the position will be filled in time for the senior national team's involvement in the Americas Regional Knockout tournament after Cup Match -- a new competition that gets underway in August in Toronto.

The event will feature Bermuda, Canada, United States, Cayman Islands and Argentina.

Last year Bermuda employed South African Test player Daryll Cullinan to assist the squad for their tournament against Canada, but his involvement in a Test series will rule him out for a similar role this summer.

"Daryll is still an active Test player for his country. We were fortunate to have him here for a brief period last year but our coaching concerns this time around are centred on a permanent coach,'' said James.

"We want to have one in place as soon as possible but there is no telling how long the process will take. First we have to make a decision as to who that person will be, then we have to allow him time to give his current employer's reasonable notice and then possibly have him cleared through Immigration if he is indeed a foreigner.'' El James: attending ICC meeting in London.