Elder statesman of Bermuda football Gary Darrell has expressed his surprise at Bermuda Hogges' slow start to the Premier Development League (PDL) this season.

The Island's most successful national team coach, now part of the Hogges backroom team, believes the physical nature of the top US amateur league has been a rude awakening for some of the squad's younger players, admitting: "At times it looks like boys against men."

While there is no doubt Hogges have taken longer than expected to adapt to the extra rigours of the PDL – two wins from nine games is testament to that – Darrell's mid-season assessment is not as 'doom and gloom' as it may initially appear.

The ex-Washington Diplomat midfielder is adamant that with technical director Derek Broadley at the helm an effective coaching structure is now in place and is confident the Hogges can be a genuine PDL force in the not too distance future.

"I've only seen the home games this season and I think that we're coming on a bit slower than expected," he said. "I think the competition has been better than I expected and we've certainly played against some good teams.

"It seems as though we're a year or a-year-and-half younger than some of the other teams and at times it looks like boys against men."

So far this season it's been a case of different league, largely different players, but same old story for Hogges who have displayed some of the same deficiencies under Scott Morton as they did under previous coach Kyle Lightbourne.

The perennial problem of finding the net has again reared its ugly head, with the team managing just three goals this term.

And while Hogges look structurally tighter than the team that struggled to get grips with the USL-D2, naive defending and costly mistakes have also undermined their attractive approach play.

Still, Darrell is quick to point out the Hogges team is part of a broader vision with this summer's programme of matches mainly viewed as ideal preparation for important international competitions on the horizon, like the Pan Am and Olympic qualifiers.

And should the Hogges' stable of coaches be able to prepare this talented, but raw, group of players over a lengthier period of time, Darrell is positive their labours will begin to bear fruit.

"The initial plan of joining the PDL was to help us prepare for tournaments down the line, and therefore results this summer aren't the be-all and end-all," said the former Devonshire Colts man.

"I think we're getting there, scoring goals has been a problem, but the guys have been very committed, enthused and we certainly can't fault their effort.

"I think we have a solid coaching base and the players are starting to understand Derek and Scottie Morton's game style. If we can keep this team together and keep on working with them beyond this season you will see a marked improvement next summer.

"We have a two-year programme of scheduled games and sometimes we have to remind the players that the PDL isn't the main reason we're here together. There's definitely something going on after this season finishes, it's important the players remember that."

It comes as somewhat of a surprise to Darrell that he is still lending his vast knowledge with Bermuda's up and coming players.

After all, he had happily swapped the discomfort of the dug-out for the solace of his armchair before being 'sweet-talked' into getting involved in the national academy by the persuasive Broadley, who considers Darrrell's thoughtful input as invaluable.

The zenith of his coaching career was in 1992 when he guided the Gombey Warriors' best ever World Cup qualifying run.

Back then the Island boasted a wealth of young footballing talent in the form of Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne, David Bascome, Meshach Wade, Elliott Jennings, Kenny Thompson, Kentoine Jennings and Dwayne (Streaker) Adams who, according to Darrell, possessed a "base knowledge" of the game which far eclipsed that of Bermuda's current crop.

It is an inadequacy the newly set-up national academy is striving to correct and Darrell can already see tangible signs of improvement particularly with the more receptive, and impressionable, junior national players.

"The players I used to work with years ago had a higher base knowledge of the game," said Darrell. "These days there are a lot of things players should know that they just don't, some of it basic.

"It's hard to compare different generations because back then we had success and it's far easier to coach players who have had success.

"I've been very encouraged with the Under-15 group Devarr Boyles (youth director) has been coaching, though. I think they're probably a year ahead of the Hogges players in some respects. They've a better understanding of our game-style simply because we have been working with them longer."