TV chief Rick Richardson has been appointed technical director of soccer at Southampton Rangers Sports Club.

The former Warwick United coach will take charge of the club's programme which has floundered since a Janeiro Tucker volley catapulted Rangers to a 1-0 victory over PHC in the 1991/92 Friendship Trophy Final.

This will be Richardson's second stint at the South Shore club, having previously guided Rangers to FA Cup glory in 1984 when they defeated Devonshire Colts 2-0 in a replay.

Last season Rangers managed only three wins in the First Division while they also lost coach Ronue Cann midway through the season.

Once a formidable force in the Premier Division, Rangers have lost the services of Tucker, cousin Kwame Tucker, Rohann Simons, Jahmeiko Flood, Craig Darrell and veteran goalie Randy Darrell.

However, sources close to the club revealed this week that Craig Darrell, who played for Devonshire Cougars last season, has opted to rejoin Rangers while it's also understood that Sports Voice anchor Nick Jones, a colleague of Richardson at Bermuda Broadcasting Company, may be in the reckoning for one of the club's several vacant coaching positions.

Southampton president Aldwyn Savery this week confirmed Richardson's appointment.

"We are now looking to reconstruct our entire football programme and we have appointed Rick (Richardson) as our new technical coaching director," said Savery.

"His mandate will be to develop a programme for us with special emphasis on the juniors and to also help with the appointment of junior coaches."

Savery hopes that Richardson's appointment will encourage some of their exiled players to make a speedy return.

"We are very pleased because Rick is a staunch supporter of Rangers and he's always shown his presence at games and has always offered his advice to all of the club's officials, so he has always remained interested."

Richardson, meanwhile, laid down some of the club's immediate objectives.

"Basically we intend to rebuild the programme and I like to think that the emphasis will be on good solid coaching and youth development," he said. "In the initial stages the role will be to identify suitable personnel to drive the programme.

"I see my role ultimately as chairing what will eventually be a football committee and section that will more or less look at the club's overall broad aims and objectives."

Elsewhere around the league, it is understood that Brian (Bulla) Anderson is close to signing on as Paget's new coach, while there is also speculation that Herbie Bascome may be travelling west to coach Somerset Bridge and Keith Jennings taking on player/coaching duties at Social Club.

The Angle Street club are also reported to have picked up several of Boulevard's junior players.

Former Dandy Town coach Roger Leverock is also reported to be contemplating a return to St.John's road.

Bermuda Football Association are expected to release the first transfer list sometime soon.