Simeonov signs professional contract with Floriana

Bulgarian midfielder Boyko Simeonov will spend the rest of the season with Floriana after all.

Last week, reports elsewhere claimed that the Greens had decided not to retain Simeonov, who joined them last month on amateur forms, but Floriana have now opted to hang on to the player.

A Floriana official yesterday confirmed to The Times that Simeonov has signed a contract as a professional player with the Greens and will therefore play for Ziya Yildiz's team till the end of the season.

Simeonov's contract was filed at the MFA offices yesterday morning, meaning that the Bulgarian has now relinquished his amateur status which had enabled him to join Floriana before the transfer window reopened at the start of the year.

Simeonov's fine performances of late, especially in last Wednesday's Premier League draw with Pietà Hotspurs, certainly had a bearing on Floriana's decision to hang on to his services.

News of Simeonov's staying with Floriana should lift the flagging spirits of the Greens who, on Wednesday, lost defender Riad-Mynel Gango-Rtsa for six to eight weeks.

The stout Congolese defender broke his fibula bone in the dying stages of their 1-1 draw as he leapt in his team's penalty area in an attempt to clear a Pietà Hotspurs' corner.

Floriana have also denied reports that their midfielder Charles Sciberras has been released.

Meanwhile, Marsaxlokk yesterday signed 28-year-old goalkeeper Reuben Debono from Birkirkara.

The southseasiders, sixth in the Premier League, have long been looking to boost their goalkeeping options as their regular custodian Reggie Cini has been hampered by a nagging back injury.

Debono, formerly of Naxxar, is now expected to make his debut for his new club on Sunday when Marsaxlokk entertain Mosta at the Hibernians Ground.

Another goalkeeper who has been in the transfer news lately is veteran Ernest Barry, currently on the books of Valletta.

The former Sliema and international goalkeeper is believed to be keen on a move to Floriana.

However, initial negotiations between the two neighbouring rivals over Barry's transfer to Floriana failed to lead to an agreement. Valletta have requested that midfielder Claude Mattocks be transferred to them as part of a swap deal but Floriana have rejected their proposal.

Birkirkara have stepped up their efforts to capture Sliema Wanderers' David Camilleri.

Having attracted interest from five Premier League clubs, the 28-year-old midfielder has identified Birkirkara as his first option.

However, Robert Arrigo and Victor Zammit, the presidents of Sliema and Birkirkara respectively, yesterday said the two clubs have yet to strike a deal.

Valletta, Pietà Hotspurs, Floriana and Marsaxlokk have also set their sights on Camilleri. Sources said that if Camilleri's proposed move to Birkirkara fails to materialise, Pietà would be the favourites to snap up his signature as their offer is the most attractive for Sliema.

Czech midfielder Jaroslav Marx is another player at the centre of transfer speculation.

Birkirkara recently announced that Marx's contract has not been renewed but, in the meantime, the player has continued to train and play for the Stripes.

Marx is being chased by a host of Premier League clubs but things may take another twist in the coming days as Birkirkara officials yesterday said that Marx's position will be reviewed.

Marx's chances of earning a new contract with Birkirkara are now better than before after his man-of-the-match display helped the Stripes obtain a 2-0 victory over Mosta on Wednesday.

Yugoslav striker Bojan Arsic made a 45-minute appearance for Birkirkara in Wednesday's game but Birkirkara will only make a decision in the coming weeks on whether to offer him a contract or not.

Birkirkara are still awaiting the arrival of Ghanaian midfielder Adamu Morso Tigana. Tigana, who was due to land in Malta yesterday but has reportedly encountered visa complications, is now expected to arrive in Malta tomorrow.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Birkirkara coach, will assess Arsic and Tigana in the next few weeks before making a definite decision on the foreign players.

Anthony Galea, the Pietà Hotspurs midfielder who has filed a transfer request, is being courted by Mosta and Division One side Msida St Joseph besides Birkirkara.