Buoyed by their unexpected quick return to the top flight, Hamrun Spartans have set their sights on avoiding the drop as they look to re-establish themselves in the top flight of Maltese football.
Last May, the Spartans were relegated after finishing bottom of the Premier League. During the summer, the club started a rebuilding process, banking more on home product and youth talent while allowing some established players to leave.
Ryan Fenech was loaned to Sliema Wanderers and Steve Meilak and Kevin Borg followed in similar moves to Qormi and Dingli Swallows respectively. Dutch forward Sylvano Comvalius was transferred to Birkirkara as midfielder Zoran Levnaic and wing-back Anton Florin were not retained.
The club still wanted to assemble a strong squad though, good enough to rank among the promotion-seekers in Division One.
So, they acquired the services of Jonathan Holland, Clyde Camoin, Luca Grech, Marcelo Pereira, Mark Barbara and Timothy Fleri Soler.
All looked to be going to plan for coach Steve D'Amato and his players but then came the after-effects of the match-fixing probe by the MFA and the Spartans found their way back into the top flight as a result of the drastic measures taken against Vittoriosa Stars and Marsaxlokk.
New Spartans president Daniel Sullivan yesterday told reporters that despite earning their place back among the elite earlier than anticipated, Hamrun will be doing all they can not to slip back into the relegation mire.
"When I took over my main objective was to lead the team back to Premier League football," Sullivan said.
"However, we never anticipated to achieve that goal so quickly. But now that we have been given this opportunity we are determined to do our best and establish our place among the top teams.
"In the close season we signed a string of exciting players who, we believe, will give us a solid platform to plan for the future. No doubt, we are aware that we have a tough task on our hands but we're confident in this group of players and coach."
Sullivan said Hamrun will be monitoring the team's progress in the coming weeks and new signings, if needed, will be made during the January transfer window.
Earlier this week, the Spartans added a second foreign player, Czech defender Martin Hrubsa, to their squad and currently there's a Belgian defender and a Nigerian-born forward on trial.
This season, D'Amato will be assisted by former club stalwart Marco Grech.
Stefan Sultana, another Hamrun great who hung up his boots last season, is the new team manager.
"This will be a whole new experience for me," Sultana, the all-time Premier League top scorer with 197 goals, said yesterday.
"Sadly, I miss not being part of the squad but there comes a time for everyone to stop and ponder on the future. Last season was a huge upset but now that we're back we hope the players will be extra motivated to lift this team."
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that the Spartans will be honouring Sultana with a testimonial match on October 9 at the Tedesco Stadium.
Sultana will play for a selection XI that includes players who formed part of the team that clinched several honours for the club in the 1980s and 90s among whom Michael Degiorgio, Ray Vella and the Refalo brothers, Gejtu and Leo.
The main guests on the occasion will be former Spartans goalkeeper Ian Leigh and striker Barry Gallagher. The Englishmen will travel to the island to play in the match.
The selection will be playing against a team composed of national team players of Sultana's era, the likes of Reggie Cini, Silvio Vella, Hubert Suda, Nicky Saliba and Kris Laferla.
Part of the proceeds from the match will go to the Puttinu Care Foundation.