IT can be argued that the team finishing third in the First Division will probably be more deserving of a place in the Premier Division than a Devonshire Colts team still without a league win so far this season.

Now they will get the chance to prove it after the Bermuda Football Association made the decision this week to return the top flight to 10 teams for next season. Two teams will still be automatically promoted, with the team finishing third being involved in a two-leg playoff against the bottom Premier Division team – almost certain to be Devonshire Colts who are 10 points adrift – to determine the 10th team.

And while it offers one more chance for a third First Division team to get promoted, all four teams in the promotion race would rather avoid the playoff and gain promotion automatically. Somerset Eagles, who lead the division by three points and with a game in hand, look certain to clinch one of the spots, leaving St. George's, St. David's and Somerset to battle for the second automatic spot. Certainly it adds a new, exciting twist to the promotion race which looks certain to go right down to the last games.

"The top four teams are proving that they are stronger but even X-Roads beat St. David's so on any given day I believe any team is capable of beating the other," said St. George's Colts manager Kenny Bascome.

St. George's have been in something of a slump since winning the Dudley Eve title in early January. However, the loss by St. David's to Somerset Eagles enabled St. George's to climb back into the automatic promotion places where five points separate them from fourth-placed Somerset Trojans who have a game in hand.

"At this stage we're still looking to win the First Division," said Bascome. "Eagles are three points ahead of us but they still have to play Somerset in their game in hand and I don't believe Somerset have thrown the towel in yet. That's a rivalry that is similar to St. George's and St. David's. We still have to play St. David's again in the league and we're looking to win the division."

Added Bascome: "We had a little slump and that was something that the players basically needed. As Mr. Paynter (player-coach Neil Paynter) said the other evening victory is in sight, it's up to the players whether they want it or not."

The two-leg playoff between Colts and one of the First Division teams should provide an exciting finale to the promotion race. Colts, who won the FA Cup as a First Division side a couple of years ago, will know that either one of the teams are capable of doing what they did in the cup.

"It will either be Somerset, St. David's or us – I think Eagles will get promoted because they are three points ahead of us. Eagles have the inside track, definitely so," said Bascome.

"We have to hope they lose and we win. I'm not worried about the game in hand because the game in hand we had (v Eagles) we ended up playing away from home. I anticipated that would happen anyway."

It was after the 1999-2000 season that the top division was reduced to eight teams in an attempt to improve the quality of football. Southampton Rangers, Boulevard and St. David's were relegated that season with Devonshire Cougars the only team getting promoted. Now, the switch back to 10 teams is being made with that same goal in mind.

"My comment would be that anything that is deemed to improve the standard of soccer I would support," said Bascome.

"I wouldn't shoot it down initially because I believe that when people come forth with ideas they should be given the opportunity to fail. We have so many naysayers in our society anyhow. Knowing Mr. (Richard) Calderon (BFA president) the way that I do and with the committee that he has working with him, hopefully this will be something in the right direction."

Bascome admits he felt the move back to 10 teams should have been made earlier in the season rather than near the end of it.

"My thought is now you will have teams who will play with a different perspective just in the hopes of finishing third," said Bascome.

Somerset Eagles against Somerset Trojans, St. David's against the Trojans and St. George's against St. David's are the remaining match-ups involving the top four that will have a huge bearing on the promotion race.

Somerset Trojans showed on Wednesday night in the Shield semi-final against Eagles, winning 3-1 to set up a meeting with St. David's in the final. Trojans have one of the toughest run-ins in the league where four of their final six matches are against top six sides Prospect, Eagles and St. David's before closing out their season away to Ireland Rangers on March 29.

No matches are scheduled for this weekend because of the Clyde Best Tournament but when league action resumes next week four First Division sides begin the final push for places in the top flight.

Rescheduled matches for midweek sees the Friendship semi-finals taking place when North Village play Southampton Rangers at Devonshire Rec. on Monday and PHC and Boulevard play in the second semi-final on Wednesday at BAA Field.

First Division matches are scheduled for Tuesday night at two venues; X-roads playing Ireland Rangers and BAA hosting Paget at BAA Field while at Devonshire Rec, promotion hopefuls St. George's and Somerset Eagles will play Social Club and Prospect respectively.

Key First Division fixtures remaining

Somerset Eagles: v Prospect, X-Roads, Somerset Trojans, Social Club, BAA, Wolves.

St. George's: v Social Club, Ireland Rangers, St. David's, Wolves, Paget.

St. David's: v Wolves, BAA, Somerset Trojans, St. George's, Prospect.

Somerset Trojans: v Prospect, Somerset Eagles, St. David's, Wolves, Paget, Ireland Rangers.

Ireland Rangers: X-Roads, Wolves, St. George's, BAA, Social Club, Somerset Trojans.