contract as national coach -- and that includes Best himself! Right now the former West Ham star has to make do with a temporary appointment made by Bermuda Football Association as the national squad prepare for next month's Shell/Umbro Cup qualifying round in Jamaica.

But Best says he's looking far beyond such a short-term commitment, readily admitting that he wants a more permanent offer from which he can put "something back into the community'' that he feels contributed so much to his own development.

The former professional has moved from his long-term residence in Orange County, Los Angeles back to Bermuda, leaving behind a coaching job in California. And he admits the move wasn't made without some trepidation.

"There probably is a bit of risk in the move,'' he said yesterday. "But then again you have to trust people in life and this is what I have done with the BFA. I hope everything will work out.

"First of all I understand the situation the BFA are facing. We sat down and talked about it and we came to the present short-term agreement. It's obviously something that I am willing to go along with.'' But the one-time bustling forward who became a hero among fans on the terraces of Upton Park in the 1960s, is anxious to strike a long-term deal with the local governing body -- an agreement which he says should offer him security and give him enough time to implement programmes that can benefit local soccer over a period of years.

"Well, I would love to sign a long term contract,'' he adds. "I have made a big move to come here. It's something that I've always wanted to do -- give something back to your own. I've got an opportunity to do that and there is no better place to do it.

"As long as everyone understands what the BFA are trying to do, in which direction they want to go, then I am sure there are people who will want to get on board and help out with the various programmes.'' Best admits that entering a major competition such as the Shell/Umbro Cup with barely six weeks of preparation isn't the ideal situation. But under the circumstances he realises the BFA had little choice having only been readmitted to the event late last year.

He says he considers it a challenge to attempt to mould a squad in such a short time and believes that with maximum commitment, the team can do themselves and the country proud.

"Naturally the timing isn't perfect, but life isn't always perfect. It's a short time to prepare a team, but there is something that can be done. We are not looking at going down there and setting the world on fire. It would be nice if we were to, but with such little time we understand that our main goal is to go there and give our all.'' Added Best: "I've coached at various levels, seniors and lots of kids, both boys and girls. It doesn't make any difference what level you coach at, you just give it your best shot and you can only insist that the players give their best effort.

"It's difficult to make comparisons with what was happening here years ago when Randy (Horton) and I were coming along, and from the players point of view it's not really fair to them to make any comparisons. Obviously we were very gifted athletes, and then again we spent a lot of time working at it.

"What kids I do get a chance to speak to, I try to tell them: `you have the same opportunity we had, you just have to put more effort and time into your development, nobody gives you anything, you've got to work for it'. "What I see here being a big problem is the little time kids spend in playing the game. It's nowhere near the time we used to put in. If they played harder and longer they could improve, it's the only way. The same problem can be seen all over the world, but we are a lot smaller and can solve our problems easier.'' Noting some of the chronic problems with the game in Bermuda, Best pointed to the reluctance of players to move when not in possession of the ball.

"If we can improve on this, and probably if the defences can mark a lot tighter, we can get better. Also we are too nice when it comes to defending.

We tend to play a bit passively. The players must understand it's a war out there on the pitch, you've got to go and battle it out. If we can play with these principles, I think we will be ok.'' Despite having spent limited time with the national team players, Best is impressed with what he's seen so far. But he's telling fans not to expect too much too soon.

"The fans must remember that we are on a new path now, we are trying to start from scratch. I have always believed that if you want success and you want to sustain it, you've got to start from the bottom. So I am hoping that I am going to be here to help build a platform that is going to last for a long, long time. And if given the time and people are patient, we are going to see the fruits of it eventually.

"It's something that is not going to happen overnight. We've got to get it over to the kids that reaching the top in soccer is going to be hard work, nobody is going to give them anything.'' As for the Shell/Umbro Cup, Best adds: "Give us a chance, be patient. If the players give us 110 percent that's all we can ask. If we do that we are going be in with a shot and we can get some decent results. If we don't do that it's going to be very difficult.'' As for the long term goals, he says: "People have said that it's going to be a difficult task, but I understand how to treat people. The secret to success in life is knowing how to treat people decently and coaching is no different.

If you do those things, you don't have problems. If you misbehave yourself it's difficult to get respect from the players.'' GOLDEN OLDIES -- Former team-mates Clyde Best (left) and Randy Horton, who tore local defences to shreds during the mid-1960s and '70s, met up prior to yesterday's BFA meeting.