Bermuda's national team will remain dormant during the next official window for international matches — although the Island's governing body insists friendly fixtures are around the corner.

The national team has not kicked a ball in anger since losing to Canada eight months ago and are still without a coach following Kenny Thompson's walkout because of chronic ill-preparation for next year's World Cup qualifiers.

But Mark Trott, from the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), remains confident squad members will have ample opportunity to dust off cobwebs before the qualifiers.

He told The Royal Gazette yesterday the BFA were working on a "more fruitful" package with a number of home fixtures against more than one Concacaf nation penciled in for next month.

"There won't be any friendly matches this month but we're working on something more fruitful," said technical committee chairman Trott. "What we have set up will be more beneficial with a group of matches planned in Bermuda before New Year.

"By then our collegiate players will have returned home and if it all works out the national team will have plenty of games to prepare ahead of the World Cup qualifiers."

Fifa's latest round of scheduled international dates run from tomorrow until next Wednesday.

Last month previous interim coach Kenny Thompson launched a stinging attack on the BFA after quitting over the national team's state of inactivity.

A disillusioned Thompson, who had agreed to prepare the team for the Digicel and World Cup, said he could not understand why the association was unable to arrange matches now it was flush with cash.

"Now we have the money but we are operating as if we don't have any money by not arranging matches ahead of time," Thompson told the Mid-Ocean News. "It is very difficult conditions for a coach to work under. I felt enough is enough and it was time to move on."

As a former national team boss, Trott said he sympathised with Thompon's frustrations but was adamant Bermuda would have as many, if not more, run-outs than the majority of their Concacaf region rivals.

"Of course it's a concern when a coach resigns because of the reasons Kenny Thompson cited," said Trott "It's understandable coaches want to play games. On many occasions we've arranged fixtures only for the other nation to come back to us and change the financial arrangement.

"Everyone is aware we've received a substantial Government grant and some nations less fortunate probably think we can now afford to pick up the entire bill. But we're now at a stage when we're very close to making an announcement regarding a programme of international friendly matches."

Trott added the BFA were on the verge on appointing an interim coach to oversee future fixtures on the horizon. The association are remaining tight-lipped on his identity but are believed to have promised him a chance to stake a claim for the hot-seat permanently.

An announcement regarding the crucial appointment of a technical director is also believed to be forthcoming with former England ace Paul Mariner and ex-Jamaica coach Rene Simoes understood to have applied.

Last February the Government announced its intention to pump an unprecedented $15 million into football, making the BFA the richest national sports governing body. Over the next six years the huge cash injection will be handed out, financing the BFA's plan to re-vamp the sport domestically.

Fellow Concacaf nation Jamaica will play El Salvador on November 18 and Guatemala three days later during the international fixtures window.