Boulevard Blazers

Coach: Andrew Bascome

Star men: Takeyhi Walker, Angelo Simmons, Hobte Burrows

Last year's finish: Second

Prediction: Champions

After a turbulent pre-season things seem to be settling down for Boulevard who have kept hold of esteemed coach Andrew Bascome and secured a ground-share with Dandy Town.

And once again Blazers should be serious contenders for league honours this term.

With coach Bascome set to blood some young talent to go with his already potent attacking veterans, Blazers could well be the team this season.

Last season saw them make huge strides forward with Bascome's men capping off a fine campaign by winning the FA Cup in dramatic style against Hornets.

Beating Cougars in the Charity Cup will have further boosted their confidence and no other team in the league can quite match their will to win and character.

Defensively they can at times be a bit suspect and they will need Hobte Burrows to be at his best to make sure their back-line remains watertight. Going forward they have no such worries with the likes of Angelo Simmons, Mel Gibbons and the much-improved Takeyhi Walker more than a match for most Premier Division defences.

Favourites for the title? You bet.

Dandy Town Hornets

Coach: Leroy Wilson

Star men: Damon Ming, Raymond Beach, Lashun Dill

Last year's finish: Third

Prediction: Fifth

It's unlikely Dandy Town will quite be the force they were under former coach Scott Morton last season.

Losing the likes of Ernest and David Signor, Antwan Russell, Giniko Butterfield, Jahron Dickinson and Shakir Smit will be hard to replace, although they have drafted experienced duo Jared Peniston and Tokia Russell.

Their opening match of the season against Boulevard will be a good measuring stick as to how Hornets will cope and new coach Leroy Wilson certainly has a tough job on his hands.

However, any team that has Raymond Beach, Heys Wolffe, Damon Ming and Lashun Dill can cause teams plenty of problems and Hornets will also be looking for promising youngster Nahki Wells to realise his full potential.

A good outside bet for a piece of silverware in one of the cup competitions but don't expect them to pose much threat in the title chase.

Devonshire Colts

Coach: Keishon Smith

Star men: Aljame Zuill, Joseph Butterfield, Andre Famous

Last year's finish: Eighth

Prediction: Ninth

It's a mystery as to how well Colts will get on this season under young coach Keishon Smith. One thing's for sure though, they can't be any worse than last season.

Early signs from the Colts camp suggest confidence is high with Smith installing some belief and togetherness in the dressing room, and with the welcome return of college players returning to the fold, it could be a break out season for them.

Once again Colts could be overly reliant on the goals of veteran marksman Aljame Zuill who missed much of last season through injury.

Early games against North Village and Somerset Trojans will be an indicator of how far along the team has come in the off-season.

Psychologically it's vital they secure a win early in the season, and then who knows? They could surprise a few people.

Devonshire Cougars

Coach: Kwame Steede/Gary Mallory

Star men: Kwame Steede, Tumaini Steede, Ijahmon Mallory

Last year's finish: Champions

Prediction: Second

The champions will have their hands full this season with all teams looking to knock them off their perch.

They weren't handed any leeway in the Charity Cup, going down 1-0 to Blazers, but they created more than enough chances to win the match.

They will start the season without Ricardo and Lamont Brangman, who were both sent off in the final, but for a side that's faced adversity for many years, these things seem to become second nature.

If the Steede contingent can keep their standard high while others around them step up when needed, the side should be among the fav-ourites.

Add to the equation that Cougars will be in the CONCACAF Champions League next term, there will be added pressure to show their true worth.

Hamilton Parish

Coach: Mark Jennings

Star men: Kaiya Darrell, Nigel Burgess, Chris Caisey

Last year's finish: Fifth

Prediction: Tenth

The Hot Peppers had a very pleasing season back in the top-flight last season and they will look to carry over their form into the new campaign.

But they could be one of the teams which may well struggle this season and become embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

The form of goalkeeper Nigel Burgess will be crucial with the Bermuda Hogges shot-stopper keeping the Hot Peppers in games last season.

And if Jamie Smith doesn't find his scoring boots then they could struggle at the other end of the pitch.

Midfield schemer Chris Caisey has proved he can be inventive and create scoring opportunites and an opening match against Trojans will be intrigiuing as both teams could struggle this season.

A reward for their performance last season is a berth in this year's Dudley Eve but expectations should be realistic for the team this term.

North Village Rams

Coach: Shaun Goater

Star men: Ralph Bean Jr., Jemeiko Jennings

Last year's finish: Fourth

Prediction: Fourth

North Village went without any silverware last season and with a club as prestigious as the Rams, that just isn't cutting it.

Cult hero Shaun Goater knows only too well that he must deliver this season and the Village faithful will be expected big things from their new coach and his team.

A pedestrian start ensured they were never involved in the title race last term and they can't afford a repeat of that this time around if they are to be in the reckoning.

An opening game against Devonshire Colts should get the side off to a winning start and build momentum for the long run.

The key to the Rams' season will be Goater, who will have his coaching credentials tested over a full season after guiding the side to their fourth place finish after Elliott Jennings stepped down as head honcho.

PHC Zebras

Coach: Kyle Lightbourne

Star men: Keston Lewis, Omar Shakir

Last year's finish: Sixth

Prediction: Seventh

It bodes to be a tough season for Zebras whose squad just doesn't compare to the team that won a memorable in –2007-8.

A number of quality players have left the club for various reasons, none more devastating than defenders Johnny Ball and Kevin Richards with the pair continuing their studies abroad.

Also gone are Tokia and Dennis Russell, along with pacy winger Aquino Grant. Yet Lightbourne remains confident his charges have what it takes to get something out of the season.

One hook they can hang their hat on is the fact that they still have enough striking options up front. Unlikely to be a part of the title chase.

Somerset Eagles

Coach: Kenny Thompson

Star men: Antwan Russell, Darrin Dowling

Last year's finish: First Division champions

Prediction: Third

Expectations have been raised for Eagles who have enjoyed a prosperous pre-season in terms of drafting in quality players.

At least 11 players made their way to White Hill Field including goal machine Antwan Russell who is likely to partner Darrin Dowling up front for the Eagles.

Thompson will be out to make a point to the rest of Island that he is one of the very top coaches in Bermuda and Eagles have the talent and desire to surprise a few people this season.

It's probably too early to talk about a title challenge but they could have a shot at winning one of the cup competitions.

Their tough opening fixtures against Degvonshire Cougars, Dandy Town and North Village will give a good indication of how Eagles will fare this season.

Somerset Trojans

Coach: Dennis Brown

Star men: Jelani Scott, Adrian Burrows

Last year's finish: First Division runners-up

Prediction: Eighth

Bermuda's most historic club is back in the top flight after a two-year absence and will surely be looking to take their place amongst the elite once again.

Led by Jelani Scott, Trojans impressed last year on their way to regaining top-flight status and while they blooded young talent last year, this year will be a step up in class for the side.

Don't be fooled, however, as the likes of Adrian Burrows and Tahj Wade are sure to cause defences problems.

Their lack of experience in the Premier Division may be their demise, but it would be a mistake to take Dennis Brown's team lightly.

Southampton Rangers

Coach: Albert Smith

Star men: Keemo Smith, Keith Jennings

Last year's finish: Seventh

Prediction: Sixth

Albert Smith's men will be looking to get off on the right foot this year after shaking up the league last year.

With additions of Dennis Russell and Keith Jennings, the side will have an extra punch behind their game as they look to improve on seventh place, a spot they didn't deserve to end up in.

An unknown quantity last time around, the Rangers squad won't be surprising anyone this time.

An opener against rivals PHC, a side they beat last year, will go a long way to see how Rangers will approach this season and what they are able to achieve.