New PHC coach Johnny Nusum faces a tough first season in charge after a deluge of summer departures has left the club's first team severely depleted.

The Zebras had 20 players on their books apply for transfers during the off season and of that number 18 followed through to complete moves before the deadline last month.

PHC responded by objecting to the release of seven players -- McLee Smith, Kareem Richardson, Dano Outerbridge, Raynel Lightbourne, Jason Robinson, Ottis Steede and Tokia Russell -- on the grounds that the players came through their youth ranks and considerable investments had been made in them.

The BFA, however, have yet to make a ruling on any of those players.

Smith is headed to Wolves, Richardson and Outerbridge to Dandy Town, Lightbourne and Robinson to Devonshire Cougars, Steede to Vasco and Russell to Social Club. If they are allowed to go, Nusum, who is replacing Jack Castle, will be left with probably the most challenging job of all the First Division coaches.

"With all those players leaving we have lost a lot of experience and some young guys who we were hoping would grow with the club and bring about a dynasty. But that's not going to happen,'' said Nusum, who was the club's technical director last season.

"That's what coaching is all about, trying to take what you've got and moulding something out of it. It's going to be hard work, a big challenge, and a real test of my coaching ability.'' Nusum, who will meet with the players (bantams through to seniors) and coaches this evening, has promised that all the players will be given equal opportunity to secure first team places.

"I can't put any pressure on the players to look for trophies, but I will try to get them to play up and above their level of play. ..to a system and to a pattern which I hope will carry us,'' said the coach.

"The positions are wide open so anyone can step forward and make this team.

I'm coming here with no favouritisms, with no history behind the individual players, it's just them and me now.'' Other notable players departing the PHC ranks arer Sheridan Ming, who is returning to Southampton Rangers to finish his career (he also transferred from PHC to Rangers in cricket), Shawn Simons who is joining Vasco and Jeffrey Butterfield who is headed to Dandy Town.

St. David's, meanwhile, had 18 of 19 players follow through with transfer threats, including first team players Lionel Cann (North Village), Shane Weeks (Boulevard), James Pace (St. George's All-Stars), Gregg Foggo (Boulevard), Jawan Thomas (Cougars), Otis Minors (Boulevard), Keith Jennings (Vasco), Sergio Goater (Cougars), Tafari Outerbridge, Jamel Warren and player-coach Andrew Bascome (both to Boulevard).

St. George's will also have to dig deep into their reserves to field a team this season following the departure of Neil Paynter and Dean Bailey to Dandy Town, Donald Whitfield to North Village, Quinton Francis to Hotels, Clay Smith to Vasco, Derek Wright back to Devonshire Colts and Melvin Simmons to Boulevard.

Clubs that should be smiling after all the transfer forms are completed include Vasco, Second Division champions Hotels, Boulevard and Dandy Town.

Vasco have also picked up Ascento Russell, Tillman Darrell and Nashon Burrows from Southampton Rangers and former Bermuda captain Meshach Wade from BAA.

Another club that has been busy are Hamilton Parish who will be a Second Division team in name only. They are favourites to get back into the First Division for the first time since 1993.

Hill brothers Ricky and Corey have joined them along with their nephew Clevon Hill from Wolves. They also picked up Wolves goalkeeper Nigel Burgess, Leon Raynor and Sean Dill from North Village and Vasco's Irving Burgess.

Bermudian striker Shawn Goater opened his scoring account for the season with English Second Division side Bristol City, netting the second goal in a 2-0 win over Blackpool on Saturday.

New signing Colin Cramb scored the first in the 48th minute and Goater then missed a penalty before hitting the second goal in the 87th minute.