Dennis Brown yesterday vehemently denied reports that he was tossed out for directing abusive language at a linesman.

A member of Bermuda Football Association's national coaching staff, Brown got his marching orders from referee Cal Simons after 69 minutes in the clash against Somerset Trojans at Devonshire Rec.

But while the coach admitted he did direct a "few words'' at the linesman after being interrupted while attempting to give his goalkeeper, Hewvonnie Brown, a bottle of water during a break in play, he claims he wasn't abusive.

"Yes, I did tell him a few things, but I certainly did not curse him,'' said Brown. "I was giving my goalkeeper a bottle of water so that he could keep it in his goal. It was perfectly legitimate. But I was told to sit down and that I couldn't do it.

"When I was told that I got upset and simply responded by telling the linesman to just go and do his job. Five minutes afterwards I was called and the referee told me to leave the bench for disrespecting an official and that was it. I don't know where this thing about using abusive language came from.'' The coach said he was never told he was being sent off for abusive language, and described the whole incident as "unfortunate'' as offering the goalkeeper water is something that has been allowed in soccer for some time.

"The other goalkeeper was getting treatment during the incident. I just got up and threw my goalkeeper the bottle and that was that. If I offended the linesman then I apologise for that, and I also apologise to the team and team officials for being sent off, although I still insist that it wasn't justified,'' added Brown.

Brown's consolation, however, was that newly-promoted Wolves came away with maximum points.

"Our main aim is survival, anything else is a bonus,'' he said. "We have a lot of players without First Division experience and it would be ludicrous to put any pressure on them by saying that we want to win a major trophy this quickly.

"We have a good squad, even with some of our young, key members away at college, and in this first game our players learned quickly just what it will take to be competitive in the First Division.

"They were a bit nervous during the first 20 minutes, but once they settled down they picked things up and played quite well.

"Going into the season I told them how important it was to concentrate for the entire 90 minutes of play, letting them know that they will not be allowed to get away with the lapses that occurred in Second Division soccer.'' Brown said players away at college had been adequately replaced by the likes of Ellington Weldon, Leonard Hypolite and Nakia Smith.

He also noted that the team's strength was that they didn't rely on any one player, emphasis being placed on team unity and team effort.