The Premier League clubs will be represented by Mario Debono and Paul Spiteri on the Malta FA Executive Committee next season.

Debono, a Sliema Wanderers official who played a leading role in discussions with the Malta FA over the players’ status reform, and Spiteri, the Valletta vice-president who is one of the most experienced football administrators in the local game, secured the two Exco seats following a vote held by the Premier Division Standing Committee (PDSC) on Wed-nesday evening.

With eight votes, Debono topped the secret ballot, held at the Floriana FC clubhouse, followed by Spiteri who received six preferences.

Adrian Delia, the newly-elected president of Birkirkara, Steve Abela, the secretary of Hibernians, and Paul Falzon, of St Andrew’s, were the other candidates for the two Exco spots.

The outcome of the vote inevitably came as a shock to Dr Delia who, along with Redeno Apap, the Qormi president, held the two Premier League seats on the MFA Exco last season.

“A year ago the 12 clubs forming part of the PDSC elected me and another to represent them in the Executive Commitee of the MFA,” Dr Delia, a lawyer by profession, wrote on his Facebook page.

“During this year, I have honestly and wholeheartedly defended the interests of the premier league clubs in particular and of football in general.”

The Birkirkara president said he had been at the forefront of the fight against match-fixing.

“Above all I have fought tooth and nail internally and publicly against the scourge of modern football... corruption and match-fixing,” he added.

“Today, I was voted out of the executive by the premier Twelve.

“Tomorrow I will take my battle to the streets...”

It is understood that Apap and Falzon, the St Andrew’s official, will now submit their nomination for the election of two Exco members representing clubs in general during the MFA’s AGM, scheduled for July 17 at the Westin Dragonara Resort.