claims for promotion places in what looks like being one of the most wide-open races in the division in a long time.

With just one team being relegated from the First Division -- and that team, Hamilton Parish, having lost some key players -- it is anybody's guess who will be the main contenders for the two promotion spots in the nine-team division.

Parish, and Wolves, who just missed out on promotion last season, should be two of them with the others likely to come from Devonshire Cougars, Port Royal, BAA and Somerset Eagles.

Parish will not have it easy, having lost at least a half dozen regulars from the team that struggled in the First Division last season. Gone are Sinclair Gibbons, Kacy Simons, Irving Burgess, Albert Wolffe, Zane Stowe, Ian Frith and Phillion Webb, all to First Division teams, while coach Johnny Nusum, a former Bermuda International, has transferred to them as a player from Spinning Wheel. His vast experience is likely to be called on immediately.

Parish open their season against Prospect at Wellington Oval tomorrow, one of the other teams expected to have their sights on promotion.

Prospect have lost the services of Lyndon Fubler, Eric Woods, Andrew Robinson and Leonard Gilkes but have signed Lawrence Smith and Antoine Daniels from St.

George's and John Richmond and Clifford Stevens from Devonshire Colts.

Devonshire Cougars will likely be the strongest tip in the division following the return of Brian (Bulla) Anderson from Boulevard to handle the player-coach duties. Cougars definitely have strengthened their squad from last season with Leon Place, Shawn Smith, Wali Salaam and Stephen Coddington rejoining them from North Village, along with Curtis Azhar from Devonshire Colts, Sergio Griffin from Vasco and Kevin Hodgson from Boulevard.

Lloyd Telford has taken over as coach of what is expected to be a young Eagles team. Antoine Brangman, Frank Smith, Duvall Binns and Stevie Riley are amongst the players who left Eagles, though there have been a host of transfers from neighbours Somerset Trojans to boost the Eagles numbers.

Wolves, with Jack Castle as head coach, will be relying on Marlon Lindsay's goals to lead their promotion push. Lindsay transferred to BAA at the end of last season before rejoining Wolves and the club is hoping he can at least match his 18 goals from last season.

Wolves' opponents, BAA, are also hoping to figure in the promotion battle having picked up a number of players from Vasco.

In tomorrow's other match, Social Club are at home to Port Royal at PHC Stadium. Port Royal have also been busy in the transfer market, with some of their signings including Taur Caisey from North Village, Roydon and Michael Holdipp from Devonshire Colts and David Gibbs from Paget.

Schedule: Hamilton Parish v Prospect (Wellington Oval), Somerset Eagles v Devonshire Cougars (White Hill); Wolves v BAA (Devonshire Rec.); Social Club v Port Royal (PHC Stadium). Paget have a bye. All matches start at 1 p.m.