Devonshire Cougars captain Kwame Steede insists he is not the long-term answer to the defending champion's coaching dilemma despite taking charge of pre-season training.

Cougars are still searching for a replacement for Devarr Boyles who resigned as coach at the end of last season to become the full-time youth director of the Bermuda Football Association.

It is understood Boulevard boss Andrew Bascome, a target for a number of domestic clubs, remains Cougars' number one choice despite continually insisting he is not looking to leave Blazers.

But Steede, who could become player/coach, is adamant Cougars preparations for the coming campaign have not been hindered by the ongoing hunt for a new supremo and pointed out that the club have rarely had a permanent man at the helm during recent pre-seasons.

"Don't call me coach. I believe we have a permanent coach (coming in) and I don't think I'll be taking the reins," said the Bermuda international. "Obviously I'll always be here to help but I think there will be a permanent coach in place (soon). At the moment I don't know who that will be. I couldn't even tell you.

"The players aren't really focusing on who will coach us; if we dwell on that then we won't go anywhere.

"We're just working on getting ourselves ready and I don't think this will hinder our title defence.

"If you look at our history we've not had a coach in the last few years during pre-season, so no, it won't hinder us at all. We've set a standard and we won't drop it. Any coach coming in right now would have to live up to our standard. Whoever comes in has big shoes to fill after Devarr (Boyles)."

Steede, 29, has been impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of the Cougars players during pre-season and is excited about the talented youngsters coming off their production line.

"I'm enjoying taking the training sessions," he said. "If they're enjoying it, I'm enjoying it and you can see by the numbers (attending) that they're enjoying it. They keep on coming and that's got to be a good thing.

"We've a lot of youths coming up, the way we're going if no big name players come in we're not stressing."

One big name player Cougars will have to cope without is Bermuda Hogges defender Darius Cox who has headed to Cape Breton University in Canada where he will join compatriots Keishen Bean, Seion Darrell, Jason Davis, Antonio Lowe and Jacqui Simons.

"Darius has already gone to college, and that's a good thing," said Steede. "He has been a big player but we have youths waiting for their chance and he's just paved the way for one of them to play."