Kyle Lightbourne has been appointed as the permanent coach of Bermuda after performing the role on an interim basis for almost a year.

Lightbourne, who also served as Andrew Bascome’s assistant for 12 months before becoming caretaker coach, put pen to paper on a contract at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence yesterday.

The 49-year-old has already started preparing his team for their upcoming Concacaf Nations League qualifying matches, starting with an away game against Aruba on September 10.

Bermuda will then play two home matches against Sint Maarten and El Salvador, in October and November, before closing out the qualifiers with an away tie against Dominican Republic next March.

Those matches will determine the three divisions for the Nations League, which starts in September 2019, as well as the ten remaining Gold Cup spots.

Lightbourne, who previously coached Bermuda from 2005 to 2007, led the Bermuda Under-20 side to the group stages of the Concacaf Championship in Costa Rica in February.

The former Stoke City striker has enjoyed plenty of domestic success with PHC Zebras and Robin Hood, as well as coaching the Bermuda Hogges for three seasons in the United Soccer League.

He quit as Robin Hood coach last summer after leading them to a maiden Premier Division title to go with their first FA Cup triumph the previous season.