Preseason training can’t come fast enough for Scott Morton.

The new PHC Zebras head coach is chomping at the bit to start his new role after being appointed as the successor for the departed Mark Wade.

“I just can’t wait to get started,” Morton said. “I have been doing a lot of homework, digging into my crates, dusting off books and bringing things back to the forefront.

“For the last two years I have been itching to get back into coaching but it was just finding the right opportunity and environment that I felt I can be productive in and help a club move forward.”

Morton was approached by the club after predecessor Wade stepped down at the end of the 2015-16 campaign. Wade will remain as the club’s technical director, while also sitting on the PHC facilities committee.

“When I first got the call I was extremely humble and chills ran up my spine because I consider PHC as one of the biggest clubs in Bermuda,” Morton said. “They have a steep culture, they’re extremely diverse and they have a lot of history so to be able to have that weight on my shoulders for me was the perfect opportunity and challenge I was looking for.”

Morton won every domestic honour, including back-to-back Premier Division championships, during a trophy laden coaching stint at North Village. Therefore, the expectations are high at PHC.

“Mr Morton has a wealth of experience, having coached at North Village Community Club and Western Stars Community Club and has led his teams to multiple winning seasons, spanning from 2000-2009,” Michael Trott, the PHC vice-president and sports director, said. “He is a quality coach and an outstanding person who will enable the continued development of the senior team.”

Morton’s immediate task is to get his players to embrace his coaching philosophy and playing system.

“The short-term goal is to make sure the players understand my thoughts and how we look to get to the winning process on the pitch,” he said. “And as long as we are focused on that, I think everything else will take care of itself.

“I’m just going to take it one day at a time and like I said to the coaching staff and the players our moto is ‘no excuses’. We just need to find a way to get it done and we are going to be very methodical and very demanding of all the players.”

Morton has inherited a team that will be bolstered next season by the influx of players that have now completed studies abroad.

“I am very excited about the college players that are returning,” he said. “It’s about five players that are returning, so I am very excited about those players returning to add to the current squad.”

Wade, who coached PHC to Friendship Trophy and Dudley Eve honours during two coaching spells at the club, said the timing of his departure was ideal.

“I actually advised the vice-president and sports director, Michael Trott, that this would be my last year coaching back in September 2015,” the Bermuda Football Association vice-president said.

“The team is in a good position coming off a good season. The timing was right.”