xsl:variable and node list

Good morning everybody,

i have something like this below

<xsl:variable name="withname">
     <xsl:copy-of
select="tblMIMCompanies[contains(translate(@name,$upperCase,$lowerCase),tran
slate($name,$upperCase,$lowerCase))'true']"/>
</xsl:variable>

<xsl:variable name="numnam" select="count($withname)"/>

but the last line is returning me an error than $withname does not return a
nodelist, any ideas what im doing incorrect?

respect
Luke A