Former senior national captain Meshach Wade is back in action!

However, the talented player will not be turning out in the US for the Harrisburg Heat of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Instead he has opted to ply his trade at local First Division side Southampton Rangers.

The news of Wade's appointment as player/coach at Rangers arrives fresh on the heels of Kentoine Jennings, a former team-mate at English side Hereford United, backing away from a deal with the Southampton club.

This move has greatly increased Rangers' chances of promotion to the Premier Division with Wade expected to assume a leading role in either the midfield or defensive positions. He will also assist coach Nick Jones in trying to resurrect a nucleus that has toiled for several seasons in the wilderness.

Wade, also a former player at both PHC and Devonshire Cougars, could not be reached for comment, however, club technical director Rick Richardson - instrumental in recruiting the player - did confirm yesterday that his club had acquired his services.

"Meshach will bolster our development and coaching programmes and certainly gives us some experience, guidance and structure in our team," Richardson said.

"I basically spoke with Meshach to try and get him to fill the same role that we had spelled out to Kentoine because I discovered that he was looking to get back to Bermuda."

Wade's decision was in part due to the fact that his wife has successfully completed studies abroad and was also looking to return to the Island.

"I had good talks with Meshach about our development plans and he was very much interested in becoming a part of those plans," said Richardson.

Wade is also poised to suit up alongside former junior national team team mates Herbie Dillas and Donnie Charles who are also making a return after watching from the sidelines over the past few seasons.