their highest placing in more than 20 years, St. George's Colts are struggling to field a team for the upcoming season.

The loss of key players in the last two summers has severly depleted the East enders' ranks, leaving them to contemplate the thought of not having a soccer team for the first time since the St. George's Colts merged with the St.

George's Cricket Club in 1961.

Attempts to get players out for training under new coach Derek Emery have so far been unsuccessful and the team's participation in the Second Division this season will be determined by the turnout for another session scheduled for tomorrow evening at Wellington Oval.

No players turned out for training on Sunday morning, which president Mansfield Smith attributed to inclement weather. But tomorrow the club will know just what interest remains.

"We will try again for Thursday and if there is no response it looks like we may have to pull out of the league,'' Smith confirmed yesterday.

"It's getting close (to the start of season) and we want to give the BFA a definite decision. Our executives are due to meet on Thursday night.'' The club was in touch with the BFA last week when the association was informed of their plight.

The handling of former coach Herbie Bascome has unquestionably led to the club's demise. The relationship between Bascome and the executives forced Bascome to quit as coach after the 1995-96, when they finished third in the First Division and won the Friendship Trophy.

Bascome took over as coach from Neil Paynter, who led the team into the Martonmere Cup for the first time the previous year.

When players heard that Bascome would not be coaching after his first season in charge, several decided to transfer elsewhere.

Goalkeeper Troy Hall went to Devonshire Colts and helped them win the league last season while Gregg Foggo joined neighbours St. David's and Ricky Hill went back to Hotels.

Franklyn Greaves retired while Philip Bailey did not play last season because of work commitments. Bascome, himself, went back to Boulevard as a player.

The result was a winless season in the First Division and the club dropped back into the Second Division for the first time since 1991-92.

Further departures during the recent transfer period, when ten first-team players departed, has left the team desperately short of numbers. Those few remaining don't appear interested.

"It's a case of trying to rebuild from scratch because we lost the nucleus of our team,'' said Smith. Those leaving include Neil Paynter, Quinton Francis, Derek Wright, Jerry Laws, Dean Bailey, Clay Smith and Donald Whitfield. Smith admits the Bascome incident was a major factor in the club's plight. "I thought we blundered there, that's my personal opinion,'' he conceded.

Bascome is now coaching FA Cup champions Boulevard. His replacement Earl Basden quit the job at the end of last season while Emery is still waiting to hold his first training session.

After the 1995-96 season the club had reason to believe they had finally arrived, having improved each year they were back in the top flight. "I thought we were on the upswing, really,'' said Smith. "The programme when Neil had it was on an upswing and Herbie gave it a big boost by going a step further and winning the Friendship. "I'm very, very disappointed. It's unfortunate that others left but I can't see why we can't start from scratch again and rebuild. The club has the facilities.'' HAPPIER TIMES -- St. George's celebrate winning the Friendship Trophy in April, 1996. After losing coach Herbie Bascome (far left), they are struggling to field a team for the coming season.