Dandy Town captain Jared Peniston is confident the club can retain their Premier Division crown this season – even without the goals of teenager Nakhi Wells.

Star striker Wells has headed to the UK to further his football education at The International Academic and Soccer Academy (IASA) and is expected to miss the entire Hornets season.

Last term's Premier Division MVP plundered 20 of his side's 55 goals and will be a huge loss for the St.John's Field side who kick-start their campaign with a Charity Cup clash against Devonshire Cougars on September 18. But his Bermuda Hogges team-mate, Peniston, is still adamant Hornets possess enough firepower in their ranks to shoot down most top-flight defences.

"Nahki will be missed but we have players that are hungry and ready to go, for example Raymond Beach," said Peniston.

Other than Wells, Hornets have retained of all their main talent, while strengthening their defence by picking up Joseph Butterfield from Devonshire Colts, Kamen Tucker from Southampton Rangers and Fabian Frankson from PHC. Midfielder Wolde Place has also returned home following a spell at Boulevard.

Adding depth and versatility to a back-line that conceded 31 goals last year was important, said Peniston, who knows his team will be a prized scalp for their opponents this season.

"First we want to defend the title and any other cup is a bonus for us," he said.

"Each player that has been signed will give us more options on the pitch. Our rivals will be gunning for us for sure and I believe this season will be even more exciting than the last one."

Dandy Town are not the only team to have strengthened this season. Their fierce rivals Devonshire Cougars have added Hamilton Parish duo Jamie Smith and midfielder Chris Caisey to their squad, while North Village have welcomed home Bermuda internationals Keishen Bean and Tyrell Burgess.

Kyle Lightbourne's PHC, too, will be looking to regain the title they won back in 2007-8 after re-signing national team forward Antwan Russell from Somerset Eagles.

"In terms of who will be our main threat this year you can look at Village, Cougars and PHC who will be the main contenders for the league, along with ourselves.

"But other teams will be just as hungry so it will be interesting," said Peniston, whose side claimed 11 points from a possible 18 against Village, Cougars and PHC last term.

"Like I said last season, we need to work hard and play each game like a cup final."

Winning the title last season saw Hornets qualify for the Concacaf Champions League pre-qualifiers. And Peniston is looking forward to re-treading the footsteps of Devonshire Cougars who represented Bermuda in the tournament earlier this year.

"Playing in the Concacaf Champions League is something the youth of our team need to be excited about," he said. "If they work hard and play well they can be scouted.

"The coaches and senior players are going make sure that we do our best in that tournament as well as the league."