The 60-day Miami saga of Bermuda's seven Under-23 soccer players seems to be entering its final chapter.

Yesterday the prosecution and defence agreed to put the cases of the six adult players before one judge.

The hearing was fixed for 9 a.m. on Thursday (10 a.m. Bermuda time) before Judge Celeste H. Muir.

The seventh player, 17-year-old Tokia Russell, is scheduled to appear at juvenile court at 1.30 p.m. the same day.

Prosecutor Mr. David Weinstein and the players' lawyer Mr. H.T. Smith have expressed confidence the seven cases can be resolved at these hearings.

It is understood both sides have been locked in out-of-court negotiations to resolve the matter.

But neither has been prepared to comment on the progress of those discussions.

Yesterday's developments occurred after three of the players, Donnie Charles, Herbert Dillas and Shawn Riley, appeared at Dade County criminal court for their 9 a.m. drugs trials. Charles appeared before Judge Paul Siegel, Dillas before Judge Allen Leesfield and Riley before Judge Leslie Rothenberg.

The three were accompanied by a small group of relatives.

As at the December 31 arraignment hearings, they were dressed smartly in dark pants and white shirts. All wore ties.

And, as before, Mr. Smith embarked on a courtroom merry-go-round to represent his clients.

The fact the courtrooms were on different floors of the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building made his task even more difficult.

At one stage he could be seen running hell for leather along a corridor, pursued by a cameraman and reporter.

The players sat with dozens of other defendants at the back of the courtrooms.

Some judges switched impressively between English and Spanish -- a useful attribute in a city with a large Hispanic community.

When Riley's name was called, Mr. Smith told Judge Rothenberg. "For the record my client is before the court with his mother.'' The hearing lasted two minutes.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Weinstein, chief of the narcotics division of Dade County's State Attorney's office, held a brief impromptu Press conference outside one of the court rooms after the hearings were over.

Said Mr. Smith: "I feel very confident the matter will be resolved on Thursday.'' The trials of the other three adult players, Meshach Wade, Kevin Jennings and Keishon Smith, had been set for next Monday and February 21.

Now the trio will appear with their team-mates on Thursday.

Mr. Smith said a few days were needed to file the cases together.

Added Mr. Weinstein: "It is always easier to deal with multiple defendants before one judge.'' Neither attorney threw any light on what would happen on Thursday, although there has been speculation both sides have been engaged in plea bargaining.

Mr. Smith went on to reveal his clients were still staying at a hotel. None of them has returned to Bermuda since their arrests.

He added the players' families were longing for the matter to be resolved.

They were naturally very "concerned'' for the well-being of the young men.

As the attorneys spoke, Charles, Dillas and Riley, accompanied by relatives, went to the cafeteria within the Gerstein complex -- an unattractive grey, slabby building, with metal latticework either side of the main entrance.

They appeared calm, relaxed and happy, chatting among themselves, occasionally breaking out into laughter.

The atmosphere seemed less tense than on December 31.

Media attempts to speak to them, however, were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Russell turned up with relatives at the juvenile court building several miles away from the adult courts.

He appeared before Judge Victoria Platzer, dressed in green pants and a light-coloured, striped shirt.

The case was formally reset for Thursday afternoon.

It was on December 9 at Miami International Airport that the players were arrested and later charged with possessing and importing about eight pounds of cannabis.

The arrests followed the Bermuda-Under-23s' success in qualifying for the Pan-Am Games finals in Argentina.

Thursday will be the 63rd day of a saga which has rocked Bermuda, but passed by unnoticed in Miami.

No Miami journalists were present at yesterday's hearings.