Boulevard defender Ajani Gibbons believes coach Andrew Bascome would be making a "big mistake" by leaving Blazers for newly crowned Premier Division champions Devonshire Cougars.

Coaching guru Bascome, who led Blazers to victory in the FA Cup final, is a leading candidate to replace Devarr Boyles as Cougars coach and has already been involved in high level talks with the club he led to a maiden Friendship Trophy and Premier title in 2004-05.

Boyles resigned at the end of last season to become Bermuda Football Association's youth director. He guided the Big Cats to Martonmere Cup and league title honours in his first and only season at the Rec.

Gibbons, who thrived in his new role at the heart of the Blazers defence last campaign, admits losing a coach of Bascome's calibre would be a considerable loss. But he remains confidant his club would be able to cope in Bascome's absence should he decide to leave them.

"There's a lot of talk about Andrew leaving Boulevard at the moment and obviously the players are concerned about it. We would all love Andrew to stay but we will not beg him to remain as coach," said Gibbons, who is on the shortlist for BFA's MVP honour this season.

Bascome is largely credited for re-establishing Blazers as a reckoning force with the club finishing runners-up in the top-flight last term.

"He brought us the FA Cup and he's an excellent coach and the team has really come together under him," added Gibbons, who is also in the running for BFA defensive player of the year award. "I think Andrew would be making a big mistake leaving us after just one season.

"We are the up and coming team whereas Devonshire Cougars have been established for a while. I think Boulevard would be the more exciting job for Andrew. But if he decides to leave, then it would be sad to see him go as we would lose a bit of momentum."

Meanwhile, Boulevard Community Club (BCC) president, Stephen Proctor, said he was completely "shocked" to learn that Bascome has contemplated moving away from his club.

"This comes as a complete shock to me because nothing was ever mentioned to us. We were hoping Andrew would remain with us over a multiple year period and certainly didn't expect this," he said. "We won the FA Cup and came second in the league and this was by far one of the best seasons we have had in a long time."

Former Blazers 'keeper Proctor now plans to meet with fellow club executives at the earliest possible date to establish exactly what Bascome's plans are for next season.

"Obviously this could set us back a bit but we will get to the bottom of it by the end of next week," he added. "We just need to know as soon as possible what his agenda is so we can start preparing for next season."

n Gibbons will miss Bermuda Under-23s match against Richmond Kickers on Sunday at BFA Field due to an ankle injury. He hopes to return to action before the end of the month.