Two of Bermuda's premier football clubs -- North Village and PHC -- are using the 1997-98 season to re-establish themselves in the First Division.

But while the Red Devils are riding high with a new look team, the Zebras are finding life a little tougher near the bottom after a mass exodus in the summer robbed them of several key players. They have also already suffered two coaching changes.

Both clubs are forsaking silverware in the rebuilding process, with Village already eliminated from the Friendship competition, which they won last year, and PHC out of the running for the Dudley Eve title, which they won for a record sixth time in January.

It wasn't that long ago that success was synonymous with both clubs. Now clubs like Boulevard, Vasco and Dandy Town are regularly in the running for the top honours.

"Our team's a young team and I don't want to put a whole lot of pressure on them,'' said first-year Village coach Kenny Thompson after the team lost their unbeaten record in the league on Sunday, going down 4-2 at home to Vasco.

Village are showing faith in youngsters such as Jamal Boyles, Kofi Dill, Jahmeiko Jennings, Jamarley Samuels and Vernon Tankard, knowing that it will take time for them to find their feet in the First Division.

"We are trying to play thoughtful and entertaining football and it takes time to combine the two,'' said Thompson.

"It's going to take a while because we have so many young players in key positions. Today (Sunday) we started quite well and then took a dive. Maybe there was a little bit of complacency early on. We stopped running and supporting.'' The Vasco game gave Village a chance to gauge just where they are at. Some defensive lapses were punished by Vasco.

"We defended badly and we were never going to concede four goals and win the game. But everybody is still in a positive frame of mind,'' he said.

"The fact that we were on top after six games shows that we can challenge for honours. We have the responsibility to football to try to win every game.'' "We are definitely in a rebuilding mode and without compromising we have the responsibility to try to win.

"I'm not making an excuses by saying it's okay to lose, I'm just saying that depending on how fast the players learn to handle situations like this will determine when we become champions.'' While Village have never been in the Second Division, PHC know what it is like to drop into the bottom tier. They went down back in 1979-80 but came back even stronger, winning the league twice in the first five years they were back in the top division.

Now there are suggestions around that the Zebras will be haunted by relegation again. Those closely involved with the team insist it is still an issue that is too early to call.

"Basically it's a mental thing, to lose five games takes its toll,'' said veteran defender Mike Dill, who returned to the Zebras first team for the first time in three years against Hotels in a bid to help halt the slide.

Having dominated for long periods, they will probably consider the draw as two points lost rather than a point gained.

Dill has been sidelined since 1994 with a serious knee injury that looked like ending his career. Doctors advised him then against playing again but Dill, now 37, always vowed he would return. He feels he can offer more in the team than on the sidelines.

"My goal is not to play and keep somebody out of the team,'' Dill stressed.

"I just hope to give them something to pep them up. If these guys get on a roll I would gladly step aside and let them carry on. I just thought they needed some leadership.'' PHC can certainly take a leaf out of Southampton Rangers' book, a team that lost their first four games and have now put together three wins on the trot.

Friday's draw did little to help PHC's bid to move out of the relegation zone.

Dill is quite happy to put his knee through the rigours of the First Division for a few more games, at least, to help the cause. "It's hard to tell someone what they are doing wrong at half-time or after the game. They were making some simple errors that I was able to point out there and then.''