The Colts, struggling to find both players and commitment, yesterday paid their registration fee and informed the Bermuda Football Association that they intended to press forward with their programme.

"Yes, everything is looking quite positive right now that we have registered.

The last-minute plea for players in the area to come and rally behind our call has provided dividends,'' said club president Mansfield Smith.

The club had set a deadline of Thursday evening, making a public plea for players to turn up for training under new coach Derek Emery. Relegated to the Second Division after a winless 1996 campaign, St. George's were ready to go without a team for the first time since 1961 if they did not get a response.

"But we only have about 17 players, and more are needed. We would like to increase that total to about 22 because work shifts will prevent a few players from becoming available on a regular basis,'' said Smith.

With players rallying behind them, Smith said that the club's overall soccer programme was now in good shape with the juniors especially sound.

"In addition to the senior team playing in the Second Division, we are going to have four junior teams, a bantam side, a minor and two mini minor sides,'' said Smith.

BFA general secretary David Sabir expressed delight over the development, saying the club had taken the necessary steps to ensure that the community is not deprived of privileges provided by soccer.

"We are extremely happy at the response of the community, players and particularly we are pleased with the effort done by the club to remain in the BFA's senior programme,'' said Sabir.

"We are hoping in some regard that this will be the catalyst to alert the community of St. George's to the fact that sports will be and can be a vital a very significant part of every day life in that part of Bermuda, specifically soccer.

"They should all keep in mind that in a very large way the programme that we implement does a world of good in assisting to keep the youths involved into something positive, which helps to make the community at large that much better in the long run.''