Vittoriosa Stars FC will be trying to win their place back in the Premier League by launching an appeal against the MFA Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices' decision to demote them, reporters were told yesterday.

On Saturday, Vittoriosa marked their first match in the top flight after several years in the doldrums but their joy was shortlived as only two days later the MFA executive committee announced they had rubber-stamped the board's decision to relegate the Stars back in Division One for their part in a match-fixing case and opt for a nine-team championship this season.

The executive committee's move meant that Vittoriosa's match against Sliema, which the latter won 3-0, was declared null except for the disciplinary actions taken in the said game.

Moreover, the derby between Floriana and Valletta has now been moved back to Saturday at 7 p.m.

Vittoriosa, the MFA said in a statement, will be given the opportunity to participate in the Division One KO and the Division One championship, which starts in late November and will be com-posed of 11 teams.

At Couvre Porte yesterday morning, Vittoriosa Stars FC legal representative Edward Gatt said the decision by the board was deemed unjust on his club. They will be lodging an appeal in their bid to overturn the ruling and they are also considering action in court to check on the validity of the board itself.

"We have our reservations on how things proceeded during this case," he said.

"According to us, we did not get a fair trial as the same people who issued the charges against Vittoriosa were the same ones in the board that decided the case. We think this was not the right way to go."

During investigations, Dr Gatt added, only club officials, including the one whose case is still sub judice, were summoned for questioning but the person who made the accusations against Vittoriosa Stars was not asked to give evidence.

"This person was never seen during the board's investigations. We think, this informer should have been cross examined as well," he said.

Vittoriosa have less than two weeks to file their appeal.

Sources close to The Times said they could also seek a ruling from the Independent Arbitration Tribunal within the MFA if the Board of Appeal sticks to the original decision.

Foreign players

Club secretary Gerald Ellul said they will now seek to clarify their position as regards player registrations and foreigners in their team.

Division One sides cannot sign more than one overseas player but at present Vittoriosa have three - Henry Isaac (Nigeria), Nikola Vukanac (Serbia) and Martin Hrubsa (Czech Republic).

"We have suddenly found ourselves in this awkward situation," he said.

"Two foreign players will have to go for sure but on local signings we still have to see how this story develops," he said.

"We are seeking meetings with MFA officials to find a solution to the problems that emerged following the board's ruling."

In pre-season, Vittoriosa con-solidated their squad with the signing of 14 new players besides hiring a new coach, Winston Muscat.