St. George's Colts fans were assured yesterday that a new soccer coach would be named by early next week.

Mansfield Smith, president of the club, said he had started to address the matter before David Brangman's criticism in yesterday's Gazette , and expected to have the post filled at a management committee meeting on Monday.

Brangman, once a candidate for the vacant post, had some harsh words to say about the east end club, claiming the soccer programme was in disarray.

But Smith hit back at his remarks, claiming it was unfair for the former player and club stalwart to ridicule the soccer programme without being furnished with all of the facts.

"I read what he had to say and I disagree with most of it,'' said Smith yesterday. "In fact I started to address the matter on Wednesday night and feel that we have made a lot of progress. It's possible that it could be resolved as early as tonight.

"I expect to have everything in place on Monday after we have our management committee meeting. It's unfortunate the way things have worked out so far, but at least they are being addressed in a correct manner.'' Smith said he believed Brangman had been unfair to criticise the club publicly when he had not been an active member for several years.

The president admitted St.George's had discussed the vacant coaching post with Brangman but the parties could not reach a financial agreement.

"I disagree with his assessment of the matter. His choice of words in describing the current state of things at St. George's were a bit strong and unfair,'' said Smith. "We just couldn't come to terms with him and I cannot see where he can have a gripe.'' Smith said that if anybody should be upset with the club it should be last season's coach Herbie Bascome, although he wouldn't elaborate.

It is felt tby some hat the club's failure to agree terms with Bascome led to the departure of prominent players such as goalkeeper Troy Hall and forwards Ricky Hill and Gregg Foggo.

Meanwhile, another soccer club president, Albert Richardson of Boulevard, has denied a Gazette report that his club signed former coach Donnie Hill in "desperation'' after turning down former coach Cyril Steede.

"That was not true, there was no desperation move nor controversy of any sorts in our selection of a coach. And for that matter Steede wasn't among the five coaches who applied to our advertisement for coach,'' said Richardson.

"Things are fine as far as our coaching situation is concerned. Our programme is going well, the players are training hard under new coach Hill and like everybody we are looking forward to the start of the new season.'' St.George's Cricket Club's six-a-side double elimination soccer tournament on Wednesday saw Prison Farm beat St.George's All-Stars 1-0 in the second final to wrap up the title.

Prison Farm entered the first final in the winners' bracket and needed to win just once while the All-Stars, playing in the losers' bracket, had to win both games to capture the title.

The first game ended in a scoreless draw with Eugene Crockwell missing two golden opportunities for the All-Stars. In sudden-death penalty kicks All-Stars won, thanks to goalkeeper George O'Brien who saved Chol Webb's kick and then scored the winning goal himself.

The second final also ended scoreless in regulation time and in sudden-death penalty kicks victory was secured by Prison Farm when Webb hammered the ball high into the corner to O'Brien's left.