next season when they attempt to join Bermuda's soccer elite.

Rangers have finished second in the First Division for the last two seasons but were denied promotion on both occasions.

Last season the Bermuda Football Association reduced the number of top flight teams to eight, promoting just the second tier champions and this season they instituted a play-off ruling.

Rangers were forced to meet the second-bottom Premier Division side, Somerset Trojans, over two legs to decide who would play were next season.

Both games were played at Somerset's home ground and resulted in 2-1 defeats for Rangers, despite the underdogs taking the lead in both legs.

Before the ties, Rangers coach Michael Corday had criticised the BFA for insisting on a play-off, saying it greatly favoured the Premier Division side.

Corday believed that the ruling not only gave the Trojans a second bite at the cherry, but felt making it a two-legged affair gave them a third opportunity to grab a lifeline.

Corday reflected: "I think the difference was individual flair. They seemed to be a bit faster, were more comfortable on the ball. Our guys are not quite as experienced as they are. But their individual players, I think, were the only difference.'' Despite the disappointment Corday said there were a great number of positives to be taken from the year.

"They have done me proud the whole season. I think these guys have over-achieved, I really do. They have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they deserve to be where they are. What we have to do now is go back to the drawing board, collect ourselves and start again,'' he said.