start of the new soccer season after the bulk of the first team squad obtained transfer releases.

The title winners for the past two years could lose as many as 20 players if those who have applied to leave take up the option of moving to other clubs.

Such an outcome would severely dent their hopes of a third successive league triumph especially since boss John Rebello has also announced his intention to quit.

Rebello, who led the club to the triple crown just two seasons ago, had intended to go following that success but was persuaded to stay on for one more season by club officials.

However, Vasco's possible demise could coincide with the re-emergence of another premier club...if the releases obtained by top players before the June 30 deadline are anything to go by. Former powerhouse, PHC, last season's Second Division champions, could benefit with a number of their former players rumoured to be ready to return home.

Those include Otis Steede and Raynel Lightbourne of Vasco and McLee Smith and Dano Outerbridge of Dandy Town.

But it is the developments within the Vasco camp that is sparking the greatest speculation as a number of their key players keep their options open. They include Ascento Russell, formerly of Southampton Rangers, ex-Boulevard player Tafari Outerbridge, second choice goalkeeper Stefan Dupres, Sinclair Gibbons, who is linked with his former club, St. George's, and former Somerset striker Dwight Basden.

Others are Diallo Sharrieff and Kentoine Jennings, who is linked with his former club North Village, and past Dandy Town players Burton Bruce, Earl Richardson and Voorhees Astwood.

Vasco will know by the end of this month just who intends to follow through with a move ahead of the 1999-2000 season.

Rebello, who coached Vasco to a total of three league titles in the 1990s, confirmed he was stepping down to distance himself from the stresses of coaching as well as the abuse he has been subjected to from opposing fans.

Rebello has been closely monitoring the transfer situation and admits the "team of the 1990s'' was at a crossroads.

"They just need to determine which direction they want to go,'' he said last night.

But he claims many of the releases were obtained "just in case''.

The first pressing matter facing the club is the appointment of a successor to Rebello, with Herbie Bascome, who came on board last year in a coaching capacity, understood to be top of the list of candidates.

If the players who obtained releases follow through with transfers, it would leave the team to built around the remaining senior players like national squad goalkeeper Timmy Figureido, defenders Derek Stapley and Clifford Roberts and midfielders Meshach Wade and Dennis Robinson.

Wade's name had also been linked with former club PHC though the former Bermuda captain did not obtain a release.

Players who obtained releases before the deadline now have until July 31 to register for a new club. A late release period will take effect from August 1-31, though those players won't be allowed to play until November 15, after the Martonmere Cup final.

Also, players who have now obtained releases still have the option of remaining with their present club, which Vasco, in particular, hope will be the case.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Troy Hall, who has spent the last few seasons with Devonshire Colts, has also obtained a release and has been linked with a move back to St. George's. On the move: Kentoine Jennings, seen here left in action for Bermuda against Cuba, is among 20 Vasco players who have obtained transfer releases, giving them the option of moving to a new club.