BAA coach Johnny Adams moved quickly yesterday to dispel television rumours that he has been replaced by Nick Jones, the man who was to have been his assistant when the season started.

"Absolutely nothing,'' was Adams' reply when asked what connection Jones now had with the team. "He has absolutely nothing to do with BAA.

"At the beginning of the season back in July he was supposed to be my assistant coach but he's only come to two or three training sessions in August and September and we haven't seen him since. I don't know where the rumours have come from but I have my suspicions.'' The talk about Adams being replaced has obviously come about because of the team's bad start to the season in which they have lost their first three matches in the league, scoring one goal and relinquishing 14.

This after the team entered the season with high expectations having picked up players in the summer like national team members Dwayne (Streaker) Adams and Meshach Wade.

Despite slumping to the bottom of the standings -- the only team without a point -- the man who steered the club back to the First Division in April insists he has no intention of quitting. Nor will he accept his players throwing in the towel less than a quarter of the way into the season.

"Definitely not. I've never quit before in football and I won't do it because we've lost three games,'' said Adams, who is being assisted by Mike Lindo.

"I'm sure the players we have aren't quitters either, that's the easy way out.

"It's been a big adjustment for us but I feel the game against Vasco we could have won although it was 3-0. We created enough chances. Against St. George's Colts we should have had a point there but missed chances again.

"Things haven't turned out as well as we would have liked as far as some of the new players but we still have key injuries to people like Vincent Chaves, Michael Bean, Joey Frias and John Cunha, guys who haven't even come out yet.'' Adams denied there is a feeling of discontent among the players who got the team back into the top flight last year as Shield champions.

"Sunday against Vasco we had eight players who played in the (Shield) final last year against Cougars,'' explained Adams. "And I thought we played very well, I think it was one of our best performances.

"I don't think guys are discouraged, we're still getting a good turnout at training. We just have to stay strong and stay together.'' Before the season started it appeared difficult to single out one promotion certainty but, without a win between them, BAA and Devonshire Cougars are looking the more likely to take the plunge. Adams insists it is still too early to start writing anybody off.

"We knew right from the beginning it was not going to be easy,'' the coach acknowledged. "It's three games gone which means it's 15 to go so you don't throw in the towel. We will battle every game.

"We're definitely not going anywhere. It's different if you're got three games to go and 10 points behind. It (going down) is not even in the thoughts.'' Unlike other teams who have experience at recovering from bad starts, BAA know the odds against survival will increase the longer they take to break out of their slump.

"We obviously have to get points very soon, not just to stay in the First Division but also to keep the confidence and spirit in the players,'' said Adams. "The morale is high, I'm not too concerned about that.'' Adams has singled out the likes of defenders Meshach Wade and Norman Correia, midfielders Duncan Ashworth and Andre Thompson and front man Clevie Critchlow for playing well so far. He says as well as tightening up at the back there is also a concern for the lack of scoring punch.

"We're missing a natural striker, but we didn't have one going into the season,'' said the coach. "The only goal we've got is from Meshach and he's playing sweeper so we can't rely on that too often.

"Our players up front have got to step forward, it's as simple as that.

Putting `Shack' back to sweeper has strengthed us at the back, he keeps the guys together but our marking still has to be improved on though I think it's better.

"I tell the players the mistakes we make in the Second Division won't get punished the way they're being punished. We also have to capitalise on other teams' mistakes and that's the name of the game.'' MESHACH WADE -- One of few bright spots so far this season.