The Bermuda Cricket Board is close to confirming the new national coach, possibly within the next few days, president Lloyd Smith said yesterday.

Herbie Bascome is understood to have the inside track for the part-time post, which has been vacant since Clay Smith withdrew his services after his contract was allowed to lapse last summer.

The BCB president confirmed that four people have applied for the position.

“The process is ongoing,” he said. “It’s a hiring process with contractual talks, so it is not confirmed as yet. We’re hoping to get it sorted out by this weekend. We have some good candidates.”

The BCB is keen to have the new man in place after it was announced on Monday that Bermuda will host the ICC Americas Region World Twenty20 qualifier in August against Canada, United States and Cayman Islands.

“We announced yesterday about the tournament and that’s all in the procedure of getting ready,” Smith said. “As soon as we have all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed, we will announce it and right after that put together a training squad. This time next week we should be able to say who is going to have the post.”

The BCB is also in the process of filling the chief executive post vacated by Neil Speight.