Birkirkara are likely to keep faith with Croatian coach Drazen Besek despite their failure to reach the FA Trophy final.
A series of spirited performances in the final weeks of the league campaign had raised Birkirkara’s optimism of retaining the Knock-Out but they bowed out of the competition with a whimper after going down 1-0 to a determined Sliema Wanderers side in last Saturday’s semi-final.
Their exit from the FA Trophy cast doubts over Besek’s future but Adrian Delia, the president of Birkirkara FC, told Times of Malta yesterday that the Croatian is likely to be confirmed.
“The indications are that Besek will remain in charge of our team for next season,” Dr Delia said.
After taking over from Italian Giovanni Tedesco in late December, Besek set about revamping the Birkirkara squad, bringing in a host of new foreigners to replace established players like Rowen Muscat, Zach Muscat, Paul Fenech, goalkeeper Justin Haber and veteran Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli.
These wholesale changes meant that Birkirkara needed some time to find their feet under Besek but they hit top form in the latter stages of the league campaign, going on an eight-match unbeaten run.
Their steady improvement was evident in their 0-0 draw against eventual champions Valletta and the 2-1 defeat of Hibernians, which handed the title to the Citizens, and the team’s performances in those two games appear to have convinced the Birkirkara hierarchy that Besek deserves the chance to start a full season in charge of their team.
Birkirkara’s involvement in the first qualifying round of the 2016/17 Europa League, scheduled for July 2 and 9, is another factor in Besek’s favour as the club will be wary of the risks of hiring a new coach and potentially a host of new players only weeks before the start of the Euro campaign.
The Stripes, who finished third in the Premier League, are expected to keep some of the foreigners they signed in January as the likes of midfielder Mislav Andelkovic, defender Christian Bubalovic and wing-back Goran Mujanovic im-pressed in the team’s late-season flourish in the championship.
The signing of a Maltese goalkeeper – Andrew Hogg is believed to be a target – and two or three attacking players are the top priorities for Birkirkara in the transfer market.
City step up plans
Champions Valletta FC are stepping up their plans for their Champions League assignments bet-ween June 30 and July 8.
Coach Paul Zammit, who is also working to strengthen the club’s coaching set-up at nursery level, is understood to be assessing the foreigners’ situation with a view to adding some new players.
Juan Cruz Gill, Umeh Calistus, Claudio Pani, Romeu Romao and Jhonnattann Benites are contracted to the club for at least another year.
Elsewhere, Sliema Wanderers’ left-back Gary Muir has been ruled out of the FA Trophy final against Balzan on Saturday after receiving a one-match ban yesterday.
Muir was dismissed 19 minutes from the end of Saturday’s semi-final against Birkirkara after collecting two bookings for two similar fouls on Frank Temile.