search for a new national coach on hold until some time in the New Year, according to president Neville Tyrrell.

The administration has been sidetracked by a leadership struggle and a boycott by referees, both of which ended this week.

Tyrrell was confirmed as president following an investigation by BFA honorary life vice-presidents into the election earlier this year, and at the same meeting on Tuesday night affiliates accepted recommendations by local referees, ensuring that soccer would resume this weekend.

Finding a replacement for BFA Technical Director Clyde Best, whose three-year contract was not renewed last May, was intended to have been finalised by the end of this year.

The BFA hinted that the position of Technical Director would likely no longer exist, as they sought to replace Best with a national coach or national coaches from within the current ranks.

The BFA also have a vacancy for second vice-president after Mark Trott resigned shortly after being elected to replace long-serving executive Elroy Ratteray at the AGM in July.

However, Tyrrell said yesterday the focus of the BFA was now directed on resuming their original agenda which was "basically to continue to work towards the further development of the sport in all areas''.

"I would certainly say that we are not going to make that deadline of naming a new coach by the end of the year, as a result of some of the uncertainties of the last three or four months,'' said the president.

"That matter has been put on the back burner with other issues being dealt with right now, and I think the main objective is to question whether we restart with the senior national programme with just national coaches.'' Tyrrell wouldn't confirm that an overseas professional coach had been ruled out, but hinted the BFA would be able to rely on local coaches to fill the void for the time being.

With the next international commitment expected to be the COPE CARIB, organised by the Caribbean Football Union between February and May, it's anticipated that a national squad could be prepared by those among the current pool of qualified coaches -- some of whom have recently improved their status by passing examinations supervised by Jon Beard, chairman of the BFA's coaching committee.

"Our plan is to advertise here to see just who is interested and then do the normal process, opting to go this way as opposed to just appointing people without knowing who is out there interested in the positions,'' said Tyrrell.

He noted that the recent courses had been well attended and the results had been pleasing with many of the Island's top coaches showing a desire to improve.

The president said he considered the appointment of a new second vice-president as important, but anticipated it wouldn't take place until the semi-annual meeting in January.

"My intention is to look at filling that position then. I have no candidates in mind, but nominations will go out to the affiliates and we will take it from there,'' he added.

"One of my main goals right now is to work hard towards getting football back on track by going forward. This also involves getting money and sponsorship to enable us to get to all of the development plans talked about over the last six months.''