outfit North Village to concentrate full-time on his role as director of football at the club.

The former Bermuda international midfielder revealed his decision to The Royal Gazette just prior to his departure with the Bermuda Under-16 team for a tour of Europe.

Stepping into the head coaching post is Thompson's former Village assistant, Scott Morton, a one-time player with Dandy Town and Hotels.

"Initially it was a three year contract with Village and the position was football director,'' explained Thompson, a gifted midfield schemer who had playing spells at Somerset Eagles, Somerset and Village. "So it was directing the entire programme, as well as coaching the first team, and I also did the coaching of the Under-15 team at North Village.

"At the end of the three year period we looked at the situation in terms of the real vision we have for the club's overall future development and decided that we definitely need someone to drive that vision...and that someone at this particular time is me.'' "It could not be driven the way we wanted to drive it until now because I've been too busy coaching the senior team as well as one of the youth teams, so it was decided that I should step back from the coaching aspect of the club and be more of a director,'' continued Thompson.

"In that way I can be more hands-on towards the technical development of the programme, which includes coaching -- upgrading the coaches and giving more of a foundation -- setting technical policy of the club for youth players from six to 17 years of age, and so on.

"It was decided that if we were going to achieve our vision we needed someone to be solely responsible for driving that vision. It just could not get done with me also coaching the first team.'' Thompson noted his complete faith in having Morton assuming control of the coaching reins at Premier level, although it means his having less personal interaction with the players.

Said Thompson: "Scott Morton's worked with me for just under two years now and knows the vision of the club also and how we go about the training sessions, so it's not a big change for the first team.

"I'm going to miss it, because I like to work directly with the players, but we're definitely looking more towards the future, that's the main reason behind it.'' At a glance it would appear also that Thompson is making another step towards putting himself under consideration for the role of technical director for the whole of Bermuda soccer, with Village something of a grooming ground.

However, Thompson noted this to be pure conjecture...at least for now.

"I feel confident at this level to be able to do an adequate job in directing a programme, my education has prepared me for such a position,'' he said.

"When people start talking about technical director of the country that's just talk, and I can't stop that, but I'm not anxious about such a position.

"I live in a way that I prepare myself for opportunity, and if somewhere along the road that opportunity presents itself then I'll look at what my options are at that time and make a decision.'' Kenny Thompson: has handed over the coaching reins at North Village to Scott Morton in order to concentrate on his role as director of football.