David Bascome insists he is expecting a smooth transition from assistant coach to head coach of Major Arena Soccer League side Baltimore Blast.

The former Bermuda midfielder was announced as the successor to long-time head coach Danny Kelly last week.

Bascome had served as Kelly’s assistant since he took over the coaching reins in 2006 and the pair guided the Blast to six championships.

“Me and Danny have been in this game for 16 years as coaches,” Bascome told Glenn Clarke Radio.

“I feel the shift is going to be more with the players, beginning to hear my voice louder.

“They’ve heard it before as an assistant, but now they’re going to hear it louder — that’s going to be their transition.

“[As for] the accountability and standards, there’s going to be a climate shift. There will be some new norms put in place.”

Bascome believes there will be more interest in the Blast in Bermuda following his appointment as head coach.

“I’ve had conversations with Bermuda Tourism and other sporting bodies as to what this will look like,” added Bascome, who played for the Blast from 2003 to 2008.

“They will be watching games in Bermuda and they want to set up parties. It’s a big thing for my country.”

The Blast won three straight titles from 2015 to 2018 and reached the MASL semi-finals last term. They were fourth in the Eastern Conference before the Covid-19 pandemic halted this season.

Ed Hale, the Blast owner, said Kelly’s departure was by mutual agreement.

“[Kelly] was an integral part of the Baltimore Blast as a player and coach by helping win nine championships,” Hale told The Baltimore Sun.

“We had many, many good years together, but it was time to make a change. The season ended March 7 and we had to begin marketing our camps and a few other things and I thought that I could get more by dealing with David and Gianni than Danny. I think it was more mutual. He may disagree, but I think the time had run its course.”