when he was officially named Bermuda's Technical Director of Coaching during a Bermuda Football Association news conference.

At the plush offices of Centre Re Insurance Holdings Limited, one of local soccer's major sponsors, and in the presence of Sports Minister David Dyer, Sports Director Brenton Roberts, Best's wife Alfreida and daughter Kimberley and other major sponsors, BFA president Neville Tyrrell revealed that the 44-year-old Best had signed a three-year contract.

"The BFA, in recognising the challenge of taking football into the next millennium, initiated a six-year international plan to rebuild its programme.

In January of this year we embarked upon a plan to rejuvenate football by re-directing its focus on sustained growth and development of the sport in Bermuda,'' said Tyrrell.

"In addition, the BFA recognised the need to reinstate the position of Technical Director of Coaching. It is the Technical Director who will provide the catalyst of bringing about a renewed desire, along with those concerned with football, and to focus on improving the quality of our sport.

"Mr. Best is well deserving of the opportunity to assist in the revitalisation of our programme. His understanding of what needs to be done and how it should be accomplished is paramount. It is indeed with great pleasure and honour that we announce him as our new Technical Director.'' Best, a former Bermuda international who has played professionally in England, Holland and the United States, said: "This naturally is a proud moment for me, to be given this position in my country. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but I am confident and looking forward to the future with optimism.'' There was no mention of the exact amount Best would be paid, but reports suggested that he had been offered somewhere in the region of what was paid to former Technical Director Burkhard Ziese -- $50,000 basic.

One thing confirmed from yesterday's conference was the renewed confidence in the sport from the business community with Robin Hamill of Centre Re and David Lang of the Bank of Bermuda expressing their delight at soccer's turnaround and Sports Minister Dyer echoing those sentiments.

"Football in Bermuda is extremely important and we believe the BFA has made positive strides in reconstituting itself to provide a high standard of football and excellence in the sport that will allow us to move into the 21st century in a positive manner,'' said Hamill.

"And the professionalism exhibited by the BFA in constructing a six year plan is very positive from our standpoint.'' Added Lang: "The BFA have a great management team in Mr. Tyrrell, Larry Mussenden and David Sabir who have been communicating very clearly with the business community. They have developed a six-year plan, they have done their homework. They have got a plan and now it's up to us to come to the wicket to try and support them, back up the tremendous amount of work that they have done and make sure that it works.'' Dr. Dyer said: "We are all behind the move that the BFA have made here today by naming one of Bermuda's own in Mr. Best to this position. We will support them to the best of our ability and to the utmost commitment. It's really great to see the business community put their shoulders behind them once again ... that's the only way that we can build our sport back to the level that it once was.

"This is good for soccer. When the business community comes forward it means they are behind you 100 percent. Soccer takes a lot of financial assistance, you can't go on tours etc. with what the Government alone provides and we recognise this.'' CLYDE BEST -- national coach to technical director