Fact-finding missions to two of the world's top soccer-playing nations have given the assistant coach of Bermuda's under-17 squad ideas on how the Island could fare better on the world stage.

Scott Morton, who is also assistant coach of Dandy Town, said after his travels to Brazil and Holland that much of Bermuda's soccer talent was needlessly going to waste.

Improvements at club level were needed to strengthen the game, before the national team could be expected to do better in international competition, he said.

Morton was full of ideas after returning recently from a spell as a guest of Dutch First Division team Heerenveen, where he was allowed to see all aspects of how the club was run.

That followed up his coaching course in Sao Paolo, Brazil in May last year, when he was invited to the training headquarters of the national team and met many of the stars who helped their country to the final of France 98.

"A lot of people in Bermuda complain about the standard of soccer here and they blame the BFA. But it is the clubs who should be looking at themselves,'' said Morton.

"We need organised structures at the clubs to give the youngsters something to aim for and we need finance from big business to support that.

"But I'm not just going to sit here and say that. I'm going to try and put it into practice at my club.

"In Bermuda, everyone benefits financially from soccer except the players.

The clubs take the gate money, the referees get paid, but the players get nothing, so you hear them asking why they should keep training hard.'' In Holland and Brazil, Morton had been impressed by how players' every needs were met and although he realised that blueprint could not be copied on Bermuda, a little company backing for clubs would help things greatly.

Morton said Bermuda could learn from Jamaica's player management in their successful qualifying campaign for the 1998 World Cup Finals.

"Each player was sponsored by a company, so he didn't have to worry about paying bills, he could concentrate fully on playing football.'' Morton, 30, whose playing career with Dandy Town was cut short by a cruciate ligament knee injury, was supported by nine sponsors to enable him to travel to Holland and Brazil. They were the Bank of Bermuda, VIP Bermuda Charities Fund, AS&K, Bermuda Olympic Association, Renaissance Reinsurance, CD&P, Point Mart, Filter Queen Bermuda and Telecom.

And he wished more big business would back the Island's best-supported sport by putting money into the clubs, as he had seen done on a huge scale in Holland.

Anyone interested in discussing Morton's ideas can contact him on 296-5021.

FAMOUS FRIEND -- Scott Morton (left) assistant coach of the Bermuda youth team, met World Cup star Denilson on a visit to the training headquarters of the Brazilian national squad.