drop on the last day of the season when they beat Devonshire Colts.

Now they are facing another battle for survival after 12 of their players applied for transfer releases before last week's deadline.

Already coach-less, club president Andrew Starling says attempts will be made to keep players at the club. But the team's future isn't looking good.

Included among those who have obtained releases are goalkeeper Stefan Dupres, one of the most underrated 'keepers in the league last season, Dennis Robinson, Clifford Roberts, Diallo Sharrieff, Michael Holdipp, Wayne Augustus and Walter Crockwell.

"We are concerned about four or five of those,'' admitted Starling yesterday.

The club have less than two weeks to finalise their roster before the registration deadline on August 15, though those seeking releases may not necessarily leave the club.

"I will be in touch with them before the deadline,'' said Starling. But he conceded that in the event those players seeking releases followed through with transfers, the club's future would depend on their ability to attract new players quickly.

Hotels, meanwhile, are close to securing a coach to replace Robert Calderon who stepped down at the end of last season.

"It's a situation where the players want to know who the coach is and the coach wants to know who the players are,'' said Starling.

Rumours were flying around recently that Hotels, who pulled out of the league after the 1992-93 season while in the First Division and only returned two years ago, were about to join up with champions Vasco.

But Starling vehemently denied such a move was in the works. "It's never been talked about with me and I would know about it,'' said the president.

A total of 71 First Division players obtained transfer releases before the deadline, with Leonard Hypolite, Rodney Bascome and Tafari Outerbridge of Boulevard among those keeping their options open.

Cup Match century-maker Mark Ray, rumoured along with Ellington Weldon to be moving to promoted Wolves, has applied for a release from Devonshire Colts along with Vic Ball Jr, while Cougars have Raynell Lightbourne and Sergio Goater looking to move on after one season with the club.

Nakia Smith and Uroy Fox of North Village also appear to be on the move with Stephen Mendes and Paul Towlson of Vasco and Anthony Wilson and Mark Thorne of Dandy Town.

Clubs have until August 15 to submit their rosters, after which there is a late registration period (August 15-28) for those players who don't fit in and are seeking a second option.

BFA RELEASE/REGISTRATION PERIODS Player release period July 13-29 (fee $25) Late release period August 15-28 (fee $25) Club registration Clubs to submit teams they will be entering (last business day in July (29th) Player registration deadline First Division (fee $30); submit team roster by August 15. Clubs having an Alliance team can register a minimum 25 and maximum 30, while clubs without Alliance teams, 18-25 players.

Player registration deadline For Second, Commercial and Women's Divisions by August 31 (fee $30). For each division the minimum is 18 and the maximum 25, except for Second Division clubs with Alliance teams when the minimum/maximum is 25-30.