chairman of the Bermuda Football Association's Coaching Committee.

BFA president Richard Thompson made the surprise disclosure this week, pointing out that the decision to "fire'' former chairman Gladwin Bean was one which he alone made, long before the Under-23s participated in the Pan-Am qualifying matches in Jamaica.

Thompson said it was a "smooth transition'' made without controversy. It had no connection with the events that occurred in Miami, he indicated.

Thus, instead of continuing with just two people in charge of coaching -- Bean as chairman and Burkhard Ziese as director of coaching -- the BFA made the decision to revert back to a full coaching committee.

The move means that all but one of those linked to the selection of the ill-fated Under-23 squad which travelled to the Caribbean have now been removed -- coach Mark Trott being the exception.

Bean, however, is still a member of the coaching committee. Ziese has filed a court writ against the BFA citing unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

"I recognised early in November that things were not working out in coaching the way I thought they should and I told Mr. Bean that I would make a change and go back to the coaching committee,'' said Thompson. "He understood my views and gave me his full support on the matter.'' The changeover is understood to have been delayed because of the situation in Miami where seven players are awaiting trial on drug charges, but Thompson assured that there had been no intention to keep it a secret.

"We have been dealing with a matter that has been very taxing and as a result some things have been a little delayed,'' he said.

However, Dill's appointment only came to light on the weekend when other coaching changes were noted as the Under-23s jetted off to compete in a series of friendly internationals in Orlando, Florida.

Gary Darrell's inclusion, in particular, came as a surprise as it was the first time that the former national coach had been included in the BFA's coaching programme since resigning after Bermuda's impressive World Cup run two years ago.

Eyebrows were raised when Darrell was listed as an advisor to the tour party.

It was Thompson who abandoned the use of a coaching committee when he took over the presidency last summer, noting at the time that with the presence of a Technical Director there was no need for a full committee.

Instead of employing such a committee he appointed North Village's representative Bean to the post as chairman and it was he and Ziese who teamed up to run the national teams.

The decision to operate without the usual committee was seen as unusual and therefore not accepted by everyone in the association, but Thompson stuck to his guns.

"I just told the one or two who had reservations `let's try it, if it doesn't work I will be the first to go back to the committee','' he said.

Thompson explained that when he noticed that the formula was not working, he readily reverted back to the original committee.

"One thing I can say is that I found myself involved in too many meetings about various coaching matters and decided that it probably would be better dealt with by a committee,'' he added.

"I spoke to the former members shortly afterwards and they agreed to return.

The committee is now back and ready to get on with the business. It's just that the events of December unfortunately slowed down the progress.'' Dill was a former deputy chairman and an obvious choice for the job. In addition to Bean the committee includes Leroy Lewis, Alfred Eve, Jon Beard, David Kneisler and Conrad Simons.

General secretary of the BFA, David Sabir, said that Darrell was recruited because somebody with experience was needed to assist coach Mark Trott on the tour.

"It's hard to send a coach on an international assignment by himself. Gary was one of the last locals involved with the national programme and consequently was an obvious choice. We were pleased that he agreed to lend his assistance,'' said Sabir.

"In all fairness we just decided where we could just pick up the pieces and keep going. Gary's inclusion made it quite simple to do so.'' Richard Thompson