Hamilton Parish have turned to Phillip Burgess and Cymande Davis as coaching replacements for Kieshon Smith, who has joined Somerset Trojans.

Smith has taken on a new challenge with the Trojans after three seasons at Hamilton Parish.

Nigel Burgess, the Parish goalkeeper and club secretary, believes the appointment of Burgess, is a good move because he has also been serving as the club’s technical director.

Davis rejoins Parish after coaching Dandy Town’s under-14 and under-16 teams and was previously the coach of St George’s Colts in the First Division.

“Phillip brings a wealth of technical experience to the team,” Burgess said.

“He’s been with the Hamilton Parish as a former player and was technical director for several years and he knows all the players quite well.

“He’s very technical and that’s going to be an asset to us.

“He assisted last season and filled in when Kieshon was not available. He’s up to the challenge and ready to take on the coaching along with Cymande, who expressed an early interest. We felt he would be a valuable asset to us.”

Burgess, a former Bermuda goalkeeper, said the players were looking forward to working with the club’s new coaching combination.

“It should be an easy transition,” he said. “The players know Phillip and a few of them worked with him in the youth ranks.

“They are confident in both Phillip and Cymande’s technical abilities and so far in our preseason, there has been a good response. They are looking forward to the season.

“The team got together in May for small-sided games to stay together and we stepped up our preseason training last month.

“Joe Lathan will be assisting as well. He’s our president but has always been with the team and will be providing assistance.

“He was with Kieshon last season and coached us in the First Division.”

Parish were in the hunt for a first league title last season before falling off the pace and finishing fourth.

They will be looking to build on that success, although they have lost a couple of key players, with Shayne Hollis, the midfielder, joining North Village Rams and Ijahmon Mallory, the defender, signing for Boulevard, who gained promotion last season with Devonshire Colts.