Bermuda?s route to the second stage of Gold Cup qualifying looks to have got a whole lot easier with the news that the British Virgin Islands have pulled out of next week?s Digicel tournament.

Bermuda Football Association confirmed yesterday that they had been officially informed of BVI?s decision in writing, which means that Kyle Lightbourne?s men only have to win one of the two remaining matches against the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic ? both of whom have far inferior FIFA rankings to Bermuda ? to advance to the next qualifying stage.

During the last Digicel Cup in 2004, Bermuda were beaten 2-0 by BVI in the final game ? a loss which knocked them out of the competition ? though it later turned out that BVI fielded ineligible ringers from other countries.

Bermuda failed to have the result of that game overturned on appeal because the BFA did not get their application in on time, but the Caribbean Football Union later ruled that those players could never represent BVI again.

BVI are now saying that they have been unable to get a team together because of this and have been forced to withdraw.

Meanwhile, assistant national coach Paul Scope said that the list of names published in yesterday?s Bermuda Sun was not the final Bermuda squad, and that the 19 or 20 players going to the US Virgin Islands would be confirmed after the final training session this morning.

Unless there are any last-minute changes, Bermuda are now set to play the hosts on Wednesday night and the Dominican Republic on Friday night ? before returning home the following day.

The new schedule means Bermuda have two games in three days while USVI have ample time to rest in between the game on Wednesday and their second match scheduled for Sunday night ? something Scope believes has been done deliberately.

?It?s no surprise really that the host nation has been given three days rest in between while we only have a day ? that?s often the way things work,? he said.

?We?re also seeking clarification from the CFU that it is still the top two teams in the group who go through. We?re pretty certain that this will be the case ? it would be totally unfair for us to be in any way penalised or hindered because another team has pulled out ? but it?s important for us to be doubly sure.

?I can also confirm that despite what was printed in the Bermuda Sun, we have not yet decided what the final squad will be and will only be doing so by around Saturday lunchtime.?

Scope has already confirmed, however, that North Village centre back Kentoine Jennings will captain the team, while Khano Smith and John Barry Nusum will partner each other up front.

Tim Figuerido, Nigel Burgess, Kevin Richards, Tyrell Burgess and Stephen Astwood will all travel, though US college players Taurean Manders, Logan Alexander and Devrae Tankard are unavailable.

Another Bermudian overseas professional Damon Ming will be staying with Hayes FC in the UK to try and win back his first team place.