DARREN BERNSTEIN is out to succeed where England failed -- he aims to be a winner.

Sunnybank-based leisure management consultant Darren, already a sports Master after successfully completing a degree course at Chichester University, is now set to undertake an International Management of Sport course endorsed by FIFA.

He is one of just 25 people from 20 different countries to win a place on the course, which will be held in Leicester, Milan and Neuchetel in Switzerland over a three-month spell.

The course will be launched by former FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter and will also be backed by former French international midfield ace Michel Platini and Britain's Minister for Sport, Kate Howey.

And Darren, a lifelong Bury fan, aims to put his learning to good use for he has already had a spell teaching English in Thailand and now the 24-year-old is to work for FIFA or UEFA developing football in third world countries.

He has already done his bit to help his own team's efforts to promote racial harmony and introduce the Asian community to football by aiding Bury's Anti-Racism Day last season.

And Darren is keen to see Asians play a much bigger part in our game.

While many people scoff at the suggestion that Asians, and Pakistanis in particular, are even remotely interested in football, Darren takes a much more positive view.

"It's a long term thing," admits Darren. "Okay, you don't see many Asians kicking a ball about on the street corners or even in the parks in organised games.

"The thing is we have ignored them for so long but now that we are actively trying to get them interested, they are bound to be a bit suspicious.

"I want to help Bury make the most of signing the first Asian-born professional footballer by getting more Asian people to come and watch and play football.

"For make no mistake, when we get the next Pakistani lad born in Britain playing his first game for a professional club that will have far more impact than Baichung Bhutia has had," predicts Darren.