New Division Two, Three league formats proposed

The format of the Division Two and Three league championships is expected to be discussed during next month's MFA council meeting. Last night proposals to change the current composition of the two minor leagues were presented to the council.

The formats of the MFA national league championships was one of the items on yesterday's agenda. President Dr Joe Mifsud asked the members present to air their views on a proposal, presented at an earlier meeting, where it was suggested that the second and third divisions will be reduced to ten teams with the remaining sides forming a new fourth division.

However, representatives from the Third Division Standing Committee informed the president, that during a meeting held on Wednesday, they had reached a consensus on a new proposal which would see both the second and third division championships contested by 14 sides on a two-round league.

Since this format would increase substantially the number of matches in these two divisions, they were proposing that the group phase of the Cup competition will be scrapped and that games will be played on a knock-out basis.

Dr Mifsud said that since there was great support for this proposal by the clubs, it would be discussed in more detail in next month's meeting. The MFA president said that discussions on the format of the Premier League and the First Division will be held after the results of a survey to be held in the coming weeks, will be published.

The MFA president yesterday confirmed the news revealed by The Times on Wednesday that the MIA are the new sponsors of the association's leagues. Dr Mifsud did not give any details of the deal which will be signed this afternoon during a press conference at the company's headquarters.

The council yesterday also discussed the relegation issue in the second division following Qormi FC's suspension and demotion to the Third Division at the end of the season.

The council decided that if Qormi ended the campaign in one of the bottom two places of the 12-team division, only two teams will be relegated to the Third Division. However, if they place in the top 10 of the table then they will be relegated along with the clubs placing 11th and 12th.

St Patrick vs Gozo

Officials from Gozo FC yesterday appeared in front of the council to justify their actions after failing to honour their Division One match against St Patrick on February 19.

The match, originally scheduled for Sunday, February 17, was postponed for the following Wednesday at the Centenary Stadium due to a waterlogged pitch at the Hamrun Ground.

Three days later the Gozitans failed to present themselves for the match as they contended that a change in schedule of the Gozo channel ferries had made it impossible for them to reach Ta' Qali in time for the kick-off.

The MFA council yesterday deemed that Gozo FC could not make it for the match and decided that this Division One match will now be played on Wednesday.