Anybody who knows Randy Horton from his playing days can almost see the expression on his face when he vows Somerset Trojans won't be allowed to slip back into the Second Division next season.

The unthinkable happened two years ago when the Trojans were relegated for the first time in their history. Horton returned as coach to get them back into the top flight at the first attempt and this year he expects his young charges to fight for honours, not merely survival.

"I'll promise you we won't be going back to the Second Division,'' said the still fiercely competitive former professional.

Somerset, who have won all the major honours in local football and were once the team to beat, open their league campaign tonight (8.00) with a home match against last season's Second Division champions Hotels.

"Our goal is to make the Martonmere competition (top six), that's our number one priority,'' said Horton. "Also we're looking forward to maybe even the Dudley Eve trophy, being in the top four at Christmas time.'' The Trojans and Hotels are two of four First Division teams who haven't yet seen action this season, and Horton likes it that way as his side prepare for what he accepts will be a tough crusade.

"People don't know who we are,'' he said.

Somerset did meet Hotels twice last season in the league, losing the first 2-0 and then drawing 2-2. A loss by Hotels to Prospect in the semi-finals of the Shield meant that the two top teams didn't meet in the final. Hotels, who also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, landed the Second Division title and Somerset the Shield.

"Hotels won the Second Division and we were second and to tell you the truth we were looking forward to playing them in the Shield final, but we were not able to because they did not make the final,'' said the coach.

"But they were a good side last year and I'm happy we're playing them first because we probably know more about them than some of the other teams that we're going to be playing.'' Both teams have added to their squads this season, with the Trojans picking up goalkeepers Ricardo Tucker from Somerset Eagles and Carlyle Crockwell from North Village. The return from inactivity of Winslow (Scaley) Williams gives them three quality goalkeepers to choose from.

"We have picked up a couple of players and also we've got a few players who haven't played for some time who have come back to play with us,'' said Horton.

Veterans Stephen Riley and Everett Wellman have decided to drop into the Commercial League with the Extros.

Hotels have lost the services of Derek Scott, who is returning to Forties, and Ricky Hill who is staying in the Second Division to help kickstart Hamilton Parish's programme. They have picked up Norrell Hull, Michael Holdipp and Sandy Boyles from Boulevard, Quinton Francis from St. George's and veteran Dion Wainwright from Wolves.

Horton knows what it will take to win in the First Division. "They've got to show commitment, it's not going to be easy and they will have to raise their standard because they will be playing at a higher level,'' he said.

"They have to raise their intensity, that's most important.

"There are some good teams but we're not in awe of anybody. I expect them to compete with every team that they play.

"I'll be driving them. We've got a young team but a team that will get stronger as the season goes on.'' League champions Devonshire Colts will be playing at BAA Field after all, having worked out an arrangement to use the club as their home ground for the second straight season.

A few weeks ago BAA president Richard Burns confirmed that Colts' one-year contract had expired and would not be renewed as the BFA would be using the ground for national squad training.

But a new deal has apparently been thrashed out with the recently released schedule showing Colts playing all their home matches at BAA.

RANDY HORTON -- `I'll promise you we won't be going back to the Second Division'.