Injured captain Clay Smith will be the team manager during Bermuda?s 11-day tour of Trinidad, following El James? last-minute decision to take a leave of absence.

Bermuda Cricket Board chief executive Neil Speight insisted yesterday that Smith?s appointment was merely ?a short term solution to a short term problem?, adding that a full time replacement would be sought should James decide not return to the job for Bermuda?s long tour of Canada in August.

Smith will certainly be a busy man down in Trinidad as he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery, as well as helping the squad prepare in his role as assistant coach.

But he insisted yesterday that the triple responsibility was perfectly manageable.

?I really do not anticipate any problems down there and I think I?ll be able to deal with each task,? he said.

?The Board have tied up a lot of the loose ends from their side of things and as manager I?ll be responsible for making sure everything is properly organised, including the hotels and all the travel arrangements and that the players have plenty of water available at all times.

?I will have a lot on my plate for sure, but that won?t be a problem.?

It is clearly in Bermuda?s longer-term interests that Smith?s focus is not overly-diverted from playing a full part in the team?s preparations as well as his continuing efforts to be fit to play within the next two months or so ? a sentiment with which the skipper readily agrees.

?As has been the case on the last couple of tours, Gus has involved me fully in the whole process and this trip will be no different,? Smith insisted.

?I will help with training in every way I can and Gus, myself and the captain will then sit down to pick the team for the matches. All of this will help with the transition when I am able to return to the side.

?The knee at the moment is progressing well. I don?t experience any real pain, it is just the stiffness that I have to keep dealing with. I?m doing some light jogging and I?ll be getting up at around 6 a.m. down in Trinidad to get that out of the way.

?When I was there for the training camp, I was able to do a little bit of running, but this time I expect to be able to do a little bit more. I can also bat a bit in the nets as well ? nothing drastic, just 15 minutes or so a day to keep my eye in and so long as I?m not experiencing any difficulties with the movement which I haven?t done up to now.

?Again I have to be really careful I don?t overdo it because the last thing I want is for there to be some kind of negative reaction and all of a sudden I am back at square one. It?s just a very gradual process but so far things are coming along as planned and I hope to be back playing by the time the team goes to Canada.?