left for dead on the battlefield.

However, those who would believe Devon Bean to be washed up need think again.

The long jumper/sprinter perhaps remembered last for his flame-out during the 100 metres heats at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 is preparing for rebirth on the athletics scene.

Indeed, it may well be that soul singer Miki Howard had nothing remotely close to mind regarding track and field back in 1989 when she crooned the hit `Love Under New Management'. But love and new management certainly ring true to the case of Bean's plight as he looks create a `smash' of his own on the athletics scene.

Having found himself stagnating in his chase while based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Bean is not only under new management, but once again truly loving that which he does better than almost any Bermudian either side of the Atlantic or Billboard's charts ... run and jump.

The graduate of the University of Arkansas (Little Rock) -- he earned degrees in psychology and sociology, to go along with a previously achieved engineering certificate -- has transplanted himself among the reaches of the Lone Star State (Texas) ... El Paso to be exact.

His new team of trainers and coaches are led by the renowned Bob Kitchens, who has coached several Olympians, including 200-metres bronze medallist Obadele Thompson of Barbados.

After being forced to endure two years of utter torment fuelled by injuries and poor results, Bean's psyche perhaps needed the most work.

He has also come to the conclusion that he is first and foremost a long jumper, and it is this area he must focus most of his energies.

"I've had a rough last couple of years, something every athlete goes through, but I've stayed positive and I feel that the results will soon start coming,'' said Bean.

"I'm looking to do this track thing on a full-time basis. I thought about it, and came to the conclusion that, in order to do that, I had to relocate to a better training environment.

"I also reached the conclusion that my bread and butter is long jump, that's where I can do the most damage, something I proved last year during two competitions in Arizona, where, if I had come anywhere close to the board, I would have been in the high 26 range.

"So I called up coach Kitchens, he did some checking and, maybe because he found out I'm a nice guy, allowed me in the camp and already my confidence is rising.

"I felt that I needed a decent environment and I can already see this one boosting me to the next level.'' That next level this year means earning a berth on the Bermuda team for the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, and later on, the World Outdoors, slated for Edmonton, Canada.

Beyond that stand the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and, ultimately, another trip to the Olympics.

"I've had to build up my confidence all over again, because when things fall apart, or don't go as you would have them, it has psychological effects,'' said Bean of the time since Atlanta.

"I was doing some good things in practice, but was unable to convert them to competition, and if I can find a way to transfer them to the track I'll be in the money.

"A track athlete has three or four good years to make a living at this and I figure mine are ahead of me and I want to make the most of whatever opportunity comes my way.

"I had the opportunity to become assistant sprints and jumps coach at my old school, but declined due to the fact that I feel like I haven't accomplished all that I would like in the sport yet.

"They gave me the option of combining my own training with that of coaching, but, if I'm going to do something, I would rather devote full-time to it.

"I talked to my family about which avenue to take and they said they'd stick behind me, and I'm giving myself until the next Olympics -- two to three years seriously -- and after that I feel I'll have put all I can in the sport.'' However, what has long been the lament of Bermuda's top track and field practitioner, Brian Wellman, has also become Bean's burden, that of finding adequate financial backing to pursue such dreams of grandeur.

Bean has survived this long almost solely on the purse-strings of family members, something that has restricted his ability to participate in the quality meets on a regular basis.

"Funding's been tough,'' he said. "The elite athlete fund doesn't support me because they say I'm not world ranked, but this year I'm on the IAAF list for long jump -- I'm ranked somewhere in the 70s -- so I don't know if that means anything to them.'' Regardless, Bean is confident of realising his full potential and achieving his goal, with the feeling that 2001 is his year to shine. He holds a personal best jump of 7.89 metres in the long jump and 10.20 in the 100 metres, which he will still run on occasion.

"Definitely I can get there,'' he continued. "I proved that to myself last year, because from point of take-off to point of landing I'm right there.

"Everybody has their day and I feel mine's coming if I keep at it and put in the time and effort. If the Good Lord wants me to have it I will, but, whether I get it or not, I'll walk away knowing that I gave it my best shot.

"Don't count me out. I've been in the game a long time, running seriously since I was seven years-old 1983 at Towson State University ... I've paid my dues and know what it takes to get there.

"I'm going to show everybody that I'm not dead yet, there's still an awful lot of life left in Devon Bean.'' Devon Bean: Olympic dream.