Mamo seals loan move to Birkirkara

Carlo Mamo will spend the rest of the season in the BOV Premier League after completing his loan move from Marsaxlokk to Birkirkara.

Marsaxlokk yesterday gave Mamo the green light to join Birkirkara on loan until the end of the season after the experienced left-back had earlier agreed to a new three-and-a-half-year contract with the Division One leaders.

An automatic choice for Marsaxlokk for the past six years, Mamo was happy with the Blues but his desire to make a swift return to Premier League football led the former Sliema flank defender to ask for a loan move.

Marsaxlokk were demoted to Division One at the start of this season after a former club official was involved in match-fixing.

Qormi and Tarxien Rainbows, Mamo's first club, immediately declared their interest in the 30-year-old but Birkirkara, the Premier League's joint-leaders stole a decisive march on their rivals after their coach Paul Zammit met with Mamo in the past few days.

Marsaxlokk, who look well-placed to gain promotion to the top flight after taking 16 points from their opening six Division One matches, had been reluctant to let Mamo go but decided not to stand in his way after securing his services for another three years.

Mamo, who still entertains hopes of earning a recall to the national squad, enjoyed a successful spell with Birkirkara in the early years of his career. He was part of the team that won the club's first ever top-flight championship in season 1999-2000.

Another player who is closing in on a move is Ian Zammit. The Valletta striker has set his sights on a loan switch to Ħamrun Spartans who have long been on Zammit's trail. The committee members of Valletta FC were meeting last night to discuss Zammit's move to the Spartans.

Zammit's imminent departure could well prompt the Citizens to launch a new search for a proven striker.

Sources have told The Times that Valletta may turn their attention to Etienne Barbara, currently on the books of Hibs.

Meanwhile, Sliema Wanderers have confirmed that Stephen Azzopardi has been relieved of his duties as first-team coach but Steve Abela, the club president, is hoping to persuade the former Birkirkara mentor to take up a new role.

As Sliema will soon move to their new training complex in Tignè, Abela wants Azzopardi, whose contract with the club is until 2011, to continue working for the Blues in another capacity.

Mark Marlow, who stepped down as coach of Msida St Joseph a few weeks ago, has agreed to take over at Sliema.

The young mentor is expected to sign a contract with Sliema until the end of the season but the deal will be extended if the team reach certain pre-defined targets come May.

Marlow took charge of his first training session at Sliema yesterday evening. The Wanderers, level with Floriana on 19 points in fifth place, will play against bottom team Dingli Swallows on Sunday.