Pippo Psaila has stepped down from his post as MOC Director of Sport, only a few months before the 2009 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Cyprus.
The MOC announced last night that Psaila's resignation has been accepted.
"The Director of Sport of the Maltese Olympic Committee has tendered his resignation to the (MOC) Executive today, January 19, 2009," said a statement issued by Psaila's media office yesterday morning.
The statement, sent to the media via email, did not give specific reasons for his resignation but noted that Psaila "was not in approval of the way the Maltese Olympic Committee was being managed".
However, Psaila's closing comments, principally his omission of MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco from the shortlist of "great people" he has worked with during his long association with sport, is being interpreted as an indication that lingering disagreements with the MOC head may have prompted his resignation.
Reflecting on his involvement in top-flight sport for over two decades, Psaila was quoted as saying: "It helped me serve my country to the best of my ability with the bag of talents that I possess.
"It helped me meet so many people from different walks of life, something that enabled me to give a value to human intrapersonal relationships... But above all, it has given me the opportunity of teaming up and working with two exceptional people, George Abela (former Malta FA president and President-elect) and Gino Camilleri (ex-MOC president). This alone has made the five hours daily I have invested voluntarily in these 30 years worth every minute."
Psaila's departure will be viewed as a severe setback for the preparations of the Maltese athletes ahead of the Cyprus GSSE, starting on June 1.
Elected to the MOC's Executive for the first time in November 1993, Psaila has overseen the participation of Maltese athletes in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games, Mediterranean Games and the GSSE. During his tenure as MOC Director of Sport, Malta won a total of 214 medals, the majority of which came in past editions of the GSSE. Psaila was also the catalyst of several initiatives and schemes aimed at raising the standards of Malta's elite athletes.
In June 2003, soon after Malta had successfully hosted the GSSE, Psaila had also announced his resignation from the MOC because of his reservations about certain provisions of the Sports Law but he returned to the fray after a 13-month sabbatical.
Before assuming the role of MOC Director of Sport in 1993, Psaila had a successful spell as coach of the national football team. During his two-year reign, Psaila led Malta to its first every competitive victory in a World Cup qualifier, a 1-0 win away to Estonia.
According to the press release, Psaila intends to hold a media conference in the coming months but not before Team Malta's rigorous international programme comes to an end "as he doesn't want to distract the athletes and their federations from the challenging work ahead of them".
MOC statement
Psaila's resignation was discussed by the MOC's top brass yesterday evening.
In a statement issued after the meeting, signed by secretary Joe Cassar, the MOC said that Psaila's resignation had been accepted.
"The MOC refers to Mr Psaila's letter of resignation and confirms that this has been accepted," the statement said.
"The MOC would also like to point out that the successful achievements registered in the last 12 years were due to the athletes' commitments, their families and federations' support and the contribution of all the MOC directors, working as a team.
"In due course the MOC will issue a call for nominations for the post of Director of Sports to serve on the committee for this quadrennial, according to the MOC statute."