The 2008/09 season for Premier League clubs officially came to a close on Friday with the FA Trophy final, won in dramatic fashion by Sliema Wanderers who beat Valletta on penalties after a 3-3 draw at the end of extra time.
Sliema secured a berth in the second qualifying round of the new Europa League thanks to their hard-earned victory in the KO competition and with that a couple of extra weeks to prepare for their commitments on the continent.
In fact, the Wanderers play their two-legged round on July 16 and 23 whereas league runners-up Valletta and third-placed Birkirkara enter the fray on July 2 for the first leg of their first qualifying round match.
League champions Hibernians will figure in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
The two legs are scheduled for June 30/July 1 and July 7/8.
Hibs, Sliema, Valletta and Birkirkara will take part in a pre-season tournament, the Euro Cup.
This competition, to be played on a league format, provides those teams in the build-up for European commitments with an ideal opportunity to test their levels of preparation and try out some new signings.
The Euro Cup is scheduled for June 22, 24 and 26.
The first draw of the new Europa League, which incorporates those clubs that previously took part in the Intertoto Cup and UEFA Cup, will be held in Nyon on June 22, the same day when Hibs will get to know their opponents in the Champions League.
There are three qualifying rounds and a play-off round to play in the Europa League before the next phase that features 12 groups of four teams each.
The knockout stage gets underway in March next year and the final is scheduled for Hamburg on May 12, 2010.
A country's representation in the Champions League and Europa League is determined by its UEFA coefficient ranking, calculated over a five-year basis.
In all probability, the Maltese teams in Europe will be paired with those from the bottom rung of the rankings that includes Georgia, Liechtenstein, Belarus, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Kazakhstan, N. Ireland, Wales, F. Islands, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Andorra and San Marino.
At present, Malta's ranking in the UEFA coefficient is no.50.
Montenegro, Andorra and San Marino are the only nations behind Malta in the list.
UEFA licence
Marsaxlokk finished outside the Europa League zone in the Premier League standings but, anyway, their position was already compromised following the MFA Appeals' Board decision not to grant them a UEFA licence.
This issue was raised during a council meeting last week where MFA president Joe Mifsud told delegates that the Appeals' Board decision was final.
The council, he said, had no power to overrule a decision taken by an independent board.
Club delegates were also informed that the new Premier League season gets under way on August 21, just four days after the Super Cup final between league champions Hibs and cup holders Sliema.
There will be a new one-off competition, the National League 100 Anniversary Cup, included in the 2009/10 calendar.
Sliema start their FA Trophy defence in the first days of April 2010 when the quarter-finals will be played. The early rounds of the KO competition get under way on October 31.