In securing the services of a new coach and several key players, First Division Paget Lions might have gone from pretenders to potential title contenders with the stroke of a pen.

With the likes of Dion Stovell and Marvin Belboda as well as new Icelandic coach Pall Gudlaugsson now among their ranks, Paget could turn out to be a tough nut to crack over the course of the upcoming season.

The 1996 First Division Shield champions endured a disappointing 2004-05 season, being booted out of the FA Cup and deducted crucial league points for fielding an ineligible player after getting the campaign off to perhaps their best ever start.

Then came the added misfortune of losing coach Brian (Bulla) Anderson midway through the season.

?When Bulla resigned it certainly left us with a void to fill,? said Paget Community Club president, Michael Stovell. ?But after that everyone involved with the club rallied together and Tariq Smith actually took over the training sessions and I think we closed out the season on a fairly good streak. I think we lost only two games in the second half of the season.?

Paget?s search for a successor to Anderson actually began back in early spring, added Stovell.

?In April we had a meeting and Gudlaugsson?s name came up. At the time he was working as a fitness instructor at the Olympic Club.?

Gudlaugsson, who has coached football at the national level in his native Iceland, also had a brief coaching stint at Devonshire Colts last season.

Upon agreeing terms with his new club, the Icelander wasted little time setting out his stall.

?All of the players have signed contracts stating they will be available to train three nights per week which also includes two nights training in the gym. And this has been going on now ever since May,? Stovell explained.

Former Western Stars executive and Devonshire Colts defender Gershon Gibbons will assist Gudlaugsson.

Others joining the Ord Road club over the summer months included former Bermuda international and Boulevard defender Leroy Stevens, former Devonshire Colts players Belboda, Mike Bean and Gibbons, while David Hunt (striker) has returned along with diminutive defender Enwar Hunt from nearby PHC Zebras.

?Leroy (Stevens) will certainly bring a lot of experience which we require in our defence and also Enwar (Hunt) who is another good defender,? Stovell added.

?But I think the addition of Dion to the team is the biggest plus for us. However, it could become a problem if he gets picked at some point in time to train with the national cricket squad. It could come to the point where he will only be allowed to play cricket.?

Paget finished sixth last season in the league with five wins, six draws and seven losses.

?I think we just need to get the right blend and overcome a few obstacles,? Stovell said. ?I don?t know if it is the fitness or mental lapses, but it always seems as though we fall out of contention after the Christmas break.?

Another bonus, Stovell reasoned, was the club?s decision to recruit a new coach from outside of the community.

?This means he can actually stamp his authority without having any favouritism,? he noted. ?And we also have Gershon (Gibbons) onboard as a player and assistant coach in addition to maybe one or two youngsters with good potential.?

As for pre-season predictions, Stovell said: ?I don?t want to really say anything before the Christmas break, but I can tell you Paget look forward to being competitive in all competitions this season.?