The arrested Under-23 soccer players seem set to see in the New Year in Miami.

Their lawyer Mr. H.T. Smith yesterday held out little hope of an immediate return to Bermuda.

"I am not optimistic at all,'' he told The Royal Gazette . Meanwhile, it also emerged yesterday: Juvenile Tokia Russell could lose a scholarship to an American college if convicted of drugs charges and placed on the US "stop list''; and The players' defence against drug charges will be that they were "set up''.

Mr. Smith spoke to The Royal Gazette less than 24 hours before his clients appeared in court. He went on to voice frustration that prosecutors had still not provided him with evidence to support the drug charges against the seven players. For instance he had not seen any of the photographs which allegedly implicate his clients.

"The problem is everything has been passed down through different agencies -- evidence has gone from the federal authorities to the state authorities, and from Customs to Police and so forth. It is frustrating.'' Mr. Smith hoped to put the case on a "faster track'' today.

The six adult players -- Herbie Dillas, Shawn Riley, Meshach Wade, Kevin Jennings, Keishon Smith and Donnie Charles -- are to appear at the criminal division of the circuit court of Dade County. They are listed to appear before separate judges at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. Bermuda time).

Yesterday Mr. Smith, president of the National Bar Association in America, said he would fight to get the six placed before a single judge.

"I am going to try to get the court to consolidate the case. The Police wrote up everything separately.'' The players are charged with importing and possessing a total of about eight pounds of marijuana.

Mr. Smith said they would be pleading not guilty at today's arraignment hearing.

Written "not guilty'' pleas have already been submitted to the court on their behalf.

"I expect a trial date will be fixed for the players,'' said Mr. Smith. "I hope to try and get a date as early as possible.'' The seventh Under-23 player arrested -- 17-year-old Tokia Russell -- is to appear this afternoon at a juvenile court before Judge Cindy Lederman.

"The prosecution will announce whether they are going to prosecute Tokia as a juvenile or an adult.

"If they decide to prosecute him as a juvenile I will ask for a quick trial.

"If, however, they want to prosecute him as an adult, I will ask that his case be consolidated with that of the other players.'' Mr. Smith described Russell as an "extremely bright young man''.

He said the teenager had won a scholarship to a college in Maryland.

Asked whether this meant Russell would lose the scholarship if convicted and placed on the US "stop list'', Mr. Smith replied: "My clients have been fully advised about the possible consequences they face.

"We have decided not to dwell on such things.

"We are extremely optimistic we won't have to face such adverse consequences.

"We are expecting this case to turn out positively for the young men.'' Mr.

Smith admitted the players' defence against the drugs charges would be that they were "set up''.

He said the seven were adamant they did not know Converse sneakers containing the marijuana were in their luggage.

They were shocked when US Customs officers with sniffer dogs discovered the sneakers.

"Wouldn't you be astonished to find something like that in your luggage?'' asked Mr. Smith from his well-appointed law office 10 minutes' walk from the Dade County court where the six adult players are appearing today.

Mr. Smith added his clients had made the most of Christmas in Miami.

He said parents and loved ones had flown over to be with the players, who are staying at an undisclosed hotel.

As well as going for waterside walks in some of Miami's tourist spots, the players and their loved ones had also gone to the movies.

"They had a family Christmas.'' On the question of legal costs, Mr. Smith said the Bermuda Football Association's retainer only lasted up until today.

He was unaware whether parents had agreed to pay any costs.

"I don't want to get into that. It's not really my responsibility.'' The Dade County state attorney's office yesterday refused to comment on the case.