Andrew Hogg’s future with AEL Kalloni is up in the air after a lingering dispute with the Greek club prompted the goalkeeper to return to Malta on Tuesday.
Times of Malta is informed that Hogg has filed a complaint with the Greek Football Federation (HFF) after Kalloni allegedly failed to honour his contract.
Hogg’s future with Kalloni has looked in jeopardy for much of the past three months as the Malta goalkeeper was also frozen out of the first-team squad.
The former Valletta custodian had been on the verge of joining Greek Super League club Panaitolikos during the January transfer window but the deal collapsed at the eleventh hour.
Kalloni are enduring a torrid season as they are bottom of the table with 10 points, four behind Panthrakikos Komotini.
Hogg’s decision to leave Greece suggests that the goalkeeper is intent on severing his links with Kalloni even though, technically, he is still contracted to the club.
His existing deal runs out at the end of season 2016-17 after Hogg had signed a new two-year contract with Kalloni last summer.
After joining Kalloni from Cypriot club Enosis Neon Paralimni in 2013, Hogg went on to establish himself as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Last season, Hogg caught the eye with a string of top-notch performances as AEL Kalloni made a bright start to the league campaign but the team’s fortunes have nosedived dramatically this term.
Last month, Hogg was linked with a return to Maltese football amid reports of interest from champions Hibernians and Birkirkara but he was unable to resolve his contractual row with AEL Kalloni.
Hibernians eventually signed Justin Haber from Birkirkara in the final days of the transfer window while the Stripes recruited Croatian goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric.
The uncertainty surrounding Hogg’s future is bad news for Malta coach Pietro Ghedin who regarded the 30-year-old as his first-choice goalkeeper.
However, Hogg, who has 45 caps, is believed to be hopeful of getting the go-ahead to train with Charles Sciberras, the national team’s goalkeepers’ coach, and physical trainer Luca Pagani in a bid to stay in shape during his enforced break from competitive football.
Ghedin, who last month extended his contract to lead the national team for another two years, will be keeping a close eye on the Maltese players’ form and fitness ahead of the friendly match against Moldova at the National Stadium on March 24.