Six of Bermuda's arrested soccer players are finding detention a little more comfy after being moved to a new jail, which comes complete with modern conveniences, The Royal Gazette has learned.

They are staying in a largish dormitory -- reckoned by one officer to be 60-feet by 60-feet -- in a three-floor building in Metro West, Dade County.

Some 2,000 inmates, looked after by 50-odd officers, are accommodated in the complex.

Rules are very much on the relaxed side.

Among the facilities are five or six televisions, a similar number of showers and toilets, an outdoor recreation yard for playing such sports as basketball, and a weight room.

And, for those who want a bit of peace and quiet, there is a library. Church services are provided as well.

Details of the conditions Meshach Wade, Herbie Dillas, Donnie Charles, Keishon Smith, Shawn Riley and Kevin Jennings are now living in were revealed yesterday by one of the jail's officers, Manuel Diaz.

He likened the dormitory to something you would see in a military establishment.

"The living conditions are better than where they were. Hell, I wouldn't mind staying there myself,'' he quipped.

The players' lawyer Mr. H.T. Smith agreed.

"It is a much better environment. I was very happy to be able to get them to this new facility.'' Part of the reason for the move was to get the players away from the clutches of Bermudian Policemen probing the Miami drugs bust.

Mr. Smith has accused the officers -- Chief Insp. Winston Esdaille in particular -- of "interrogating'' his clients behind his back.

Officer Diaz said it was for the classification officer to decide whether the inmates could move to another centre or not.

"He has to balance the population with the facilities.'' A key consideration was the charges the inmates faced.

Previously, the players had been in a 30-man Dade County jail cell on the second floor of a 10-floor building.

Each floor held 200-odd people guarded around-the-clock by four or five officers. Cells were fitted with three-man bunks.

"You have to remember this a jail and not a prison, the two are totally different,'' said Officer Diaz.

"The people here have not been convicted of anything. It is a lot tougher in prison.'' Officer Diaz said breakfast was normally served very early -- as it is at the new centre.

"It's served early because some of the inmates have things to do, such as go to court. Inmates have three square meals a day, and also free medication.'' He added: "The inmates don't go outside. In fact, the only thing they see outside the walls is the sky. The rules are, however, lenient.'' For 17-year-old Tokia Russell, conditions at Dade County's nearby juvenile detention centre are similar.

"It's a jail setting with basically the same facilities,'' said Officer Diaz.