Danny Seymour became the season's first coaching casualty, when he was sacked prior to yesterday's Coca-Cola First Division encounter between Vasco and PHC.

The enigmatic Seymour was said to have become disenchanted with the performance and attitude of his players.

However, the final straw may well have been the coach's own lack of dedication and commitment to the job he had held since the 1991-92 season, which ultimately led to his downfall.

Failure to attend training sessions and late arrival to matches were also not unusual for Seymour.

"Basically, he took it upon himself (to leave) as he felt that he wasn't getting the commitment from players,'' said John Rebello, Seymour's former assistant who is now saddled with the task of leading the club.

Rebello will receive assistance from club president Eddie Correia and a few senior players.

"The door was left open for him to decide and his not showing up today (yesterday) left the club no option but to dismiss him.'' Correia refused comment on the subject of Seymour when contacted last night.

After a blazing start, where St. David's and powerhouses North Village were counted as early victims, the Vasco fire dimmed. Three of their last four matches have ended in losses plummetting them to eighth in the standings.

Seymour, who could not be reached for comment, is well travelled as a coach, having previously enjoyed stints at Southampton Rangers, Dandy Town, Vasco -- this was his second tenure -- and Warwick.

Controversy has accompanied the former Bermuda international, whose ego has often been regarded as being as great as his ability.

He was once disciplined by the Bermuda Football Association for conducting coaching sessions, ironically at Vasco, while serving out a suspension and it was no secret that he did not see eye to eye with members of the ruling body.

Few have been spared his wrath, including former Bermuda national coach Gary Darrell, whom he publicly criticised, instead proclaiming himself as being the best coach for the Island.

Many agreed that he was -- and remains -- a bright coaching mind, although results do not necessarily bear this out.

While it is true that he was responsible for guiding Vasco into the top flight he was similarly blamed for the failure of Warwick, who took the plunge at the end of the 1990-91 campaign where Seymour again left -- or was fired -- in midstream.

Rudderless, Vasco were left to tackle a PHC outfit hungry for the points that would pull them out from the First Division basement.

First-half goals from Sheridan Ming and Meshach Wade enabled the home side to achieve this ambition although their lapse into a defensive posture in the second half almost cost them victory as Vasco stormed back late.

Paul Towlson pulled one back with a header, but it was a case of too little too late.

Dictating the opening moments were Vasco, as from the opening kick-off they gained an opportunity when Voorhees Astwood burst down the left flank and crossed to Irving Burgess, whose first-time volley from 20 yards sailed wide.

Absorbing the early pressure, the young Zebras gradually worked their way into the match and after 10 minutes an opening sprung for Kevin Dill, only to have him scorch a right-foot effort inches adrift of the top-right corner.

Dill would be the goat on at least three other occasions on what proved a nightmare afternoon in the shooting department for the veteran midfielder.

Ming rectified things, though, in the 25th minute when he took advantage of goalkeeper Keenan Tucker's failure to hold onto a drive by right-back Meshach Wade, tapping in the rebound from close range.

Barely two minutes passed before the lead was doubled as Wade this time was the beneficiary of a perfectly-flighted cross by the evergreen Sammy Swan, rising to place a firm header past Tucker.

There was confusion as the teams took the field to start the second half as Vasco's attempted insertion of Ricky Mallory was disallowed by referee Frank Drayton because the former was not dressed and on the bench at the beginning of the match.

This was despite the fact that Mallory was present and had his name on the team sheet.

Vasco's lone reply came six minutes from the end as the lanky Towlson rose unmolested to head home Karl Roberts' free kick.

PHC: D.Tucker; M.Wade, M.Dill, B.Simns, B.Bean; K.Dill, O.Steede, S.Swan; S.Ming, D.Wolffe, R.Lightbourne (T.Russell, 68 mins).

Vasco: K.Tucker; E.Richardson, K.Roberts, D.Livingston, J.Cunha (C.Bell, 68 mins); C.Lloyd, P.Towlson, V.Astwood; D.Thomas, I.Burgess, L.Durham.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Sammy Swan (PHC); Karl Roberts (Vasco).

MICHAEL WAY -- During 6-0, 6-3 loss to Tom Mercer.

FALLEN HERO -- Bermuda's Donald Evans, left, heads off the court after losing 6-3, 6-2 to American Brian Devening on Saturday.