that Barbados have now pulled out of hosting the first round between January 31 and February 4.

Bermuda Football Association coaching committee chairman Jon Beard confirmed last night he had received correspondence from the regional body CONCACAF stating that the matches had been postponed.

No reason was given for the sudden Barbados withdrawal, which follows a similar situation late last year involving Cayman Islands.

Caymans initially stated their inability to host the qualifying round of the event, featuring four teams -- Bermuda, US Virgin Islands, Caymans and Jamaica -- adding that US Virgin Islands had pulled out.

However, after offers from Bermuda to take over the hosting of the tournament, Caymans suddenly reversed course, moving the event back one week and reinstating USVI as participants.

Bermuda, who were notified of the change just three days prior to the team's scheduled departure, protested the move, citing extra financial expense and the fact that it would mean several team members losing precious time from the classroom.

The local team were eventually awarded free passage through to the first round proper after BFA general secretary David Sabir made representations to both the CFU and CONCACAF, and threatened to bring world governing body FIFA to the fray.

Now a script all too familiar with regards tournaments organised in and around the Caribbean is once again unfurling.

And, just as with the Caymans fiasco, Bermuda has thrown its hat into the ring, offering to host the tournament, which should still involve Barbados, as well as Jamaica and Netherland Antilles.

"We would be able to host the event, depending on the availability of National Stadium, reasonable hotel rates and finding the necessary funding to put on a four-team tournament,'' said Beard.

"The last time we offered to host the event they said no, and we expect to hear back from them next week.

"Obviously we'd like to be able to host it and have home field advantage, which would be nice. It's a bit more chilly here at this time of year and that might set them off a bit and increase our chances.''