Quilton Joell's ability to handle the team in Sunday's FA Cup final against Vasco.

The club turned to Joell after the sudden departure of Vic Ball earlier this week. Ball resigned under pressure after it emerged that many members of the team were unhappy with his coaching and were threatening a revolt next season if he stayed on the job.

Just a year ago Ball was the toast of Colts after taking the club to their first league title in 24 years. But things have not been well in the Colts camp this season and they could only finish sixth in the league to grab the final Martonmere Cup place for next season.

And while the matter of a full-time replacement for Ball will soon be on the agenda, for now the most pressing issue is Sunday's end-of-season showpiece at the National Stadium.

"The morale of the team is still very high, the guys know they have a job ahead of them,'' said Dill yesterday. "Attendance has been good at training and the fellas are focussed on the job at hand.'' However, trips abroad robbed Colts of two key members of the team: Assistant coach Darrin Lewis and midfielder Mark (Beaver) Ray. Work commitments are also threatening Jahmah Samuels' place in the team.

"We are looking to get Jahmah freed up for the game, but Beaver isn't going to be available,'' said Dill. "Other than those two there aren't any major problems so the team should be operating as usual. Quilton Joell has been holding the sessions and will be in charge of the team on the day.'' Joell was an assistant under Ball earlier in the season before taking over the club's under-17 squad.

Dill doesn't see any problems with the Joell appointment, which has already been discussed with players. "They were all cognisant of what's going on from the time the coach (Ball) made the announcement,'' he said.

"Everybody is in cohesion so there weren't any major problems. It was a mutual decision, he came to us and let us know how he felt and let us know it was time for him to step down.'' After Sunday's final, the club will begin the search for a new coach, and one name that has already surfaced is that of former coach David Furbert, who just guided Hamilton Parish back into the First Division.

"From an executive standpoint we aren't even looking that far ahead, we're just trying to deal with this season and then we're going to sit down during the off-season and look at the options,'' said Dill.

"We will look internally first and then we will go out and solicit somebody.

Those decisions will be made during the off-season. We will cross that bridge when we get to it, but by the same token people may come to us looking to take over the reins and we will sit down as a collective group and decide which direction we will go.'' Ball could not be reached for comment yesterday.