HAVING relinquished the reins as coach of Wolves' senior team at the end of a bitter/sweet 2001/02 campaign that saw his team hoist the Dudley Eve trophy but then become relegated, Dennis Brown now sets his sights on the youth at Wolves.

A veteran of 11 illustrious seasons as a pillar of strength at the heart of Somerset Trojan's defence, Brown has just about accomplished everything that the local game has to offer. He has won an astounding five Premier Division league titles, two FA Cups, three Friendships Trophies, five Martonmere Cups and one Dudley Eve title.

For added measure he's also a past recipient of the coveted Sportsman of the Year award and has been nominated as local soccer's MVP on two occasions while captaining Bermuda's national team.

After playing Brown began to add to his long list of achievements as he coached Wolves to their first major title (Martonmere Ccup) in 2000/01 and this year he guided his adopted club to their first Dudley Eve title before the bottom finally fell out and his side tumbled from grace and into the First Division.

"We got to the top and then forgot what it was that brought us there," Brown said. "Once you get to the top you have to work harder to stay there."

But just as he exemplified the heart and character of a champion as a player with his disciplined, never-say-die demeanour, Brown is now about to impart his vast knowledge of the game down to the grass roots at the Devonshire club.

"It's very important to get these youngsters at a very young age and to put across good habits to them. Not only in a football sense, but also in a everyday sense," he said.

"I always tell my players that if you make bad decisions on the field you get punished and if you make the same bad decisions in life then you are held accountable for whatever happens. It's just a matter of getting the right information out to these youngsters.

"So I think that I have a bigger responsibility in that I have to make sure that they get the correct and proper training and more importantly the right information to help them better themselves. I will be responsible for restructuring the entire junior programme - helping with the development of between 50 to 60 youngsters.

"We have the Pee Wees, a good Under-11 team that toured Harrisburg last year and I am also looking to deal with the Under-13 and Under-15's teams. So it's important that the right information reaches these youngsters."

Brown also left the door slightly ajar for the possibility of making a return as a coach at the senior level.

"My philosophy has always been to never say never," he said. "But at this time my main priority is to develop the youth players at Wolves Sports Club."

The veteran also reflected a bit on Wolves' mixed fortunes last season.

"There were a few things that disappointed me last season. Naturally I was disappointed at being relegated. When I was a player we ate, slept and drank football, and above all we loved the game! It seems as though today, players don't go that extra mile to ensure that they are always prepared not only physically, but also mentally. We used to love the game but today players just take it as a chore and there are far too many distractions for these guys to focus on football."

But despite ending the 2001/02 campaign on a sombre note, Brown left his players with a blueprint for success - that is, if they are prepared to adhere to his advice.

"One thing that I mentioned to the guys at the end of the season is that they could take a page out of PHC and Boulevard's book by sticking together and making the sacrifice. If they can accomplish that, then it's possible that they can come right back up and be more focused and mature to handle success, because everyone wants success but there is a price for being successful. You can only reap what you sow."

With Bermuda's Under-17 team currently undergoing preparations for the next Under-17 World Cup qualifiers (to commence later this year), Brown is also a member of a three-pronged coaching staff who include Scott Morton and BFA Youth Development director Kenny Thompson.

"It's our responsibility to make sure that these guys are prepared tactically and technically," Brown added.

"It was a great honour to have Kenny (Thompson) invite me to assist him in the preparation of the upcoming tournament. At the time he called me I was a bit disillusioned about coaching and that gave me a new lease on life - in fact I was even considering giving up coaching altogether. That sort of inspired me to assist him (Kenny) and then get the Wolves junior programme up and running. I really enjoy working with the younger crew."

Brown also hopes to land a job as coach of one of the island's junior teams.

"I really like to coach, especially at the national level from Under-23 down. That is one of my ambitions to possibly secure one of those jobs that may arise in the near future. Possibly the Pan Am team or who knows? Even the Olympic squad."