Clive Mizzi was named as the new coach of Naxxar Lions yesterday evening after the Premier League strugglers parted ways with Stefano Grima.

A 5-1 drubbing to newly-promoted side Pembroke Athleta precipitated Grima’s dismissal as Naxxar slumped to their seventh straight defeat since the start of the 2015/16 championship.

“During a meeting held today between Naxxar Lions FC and Stefano Grima, it was agreed that the contract of the senior coach will be terminated with immediate effect,” a club statement.

“The Naxxar Lions board of directors would like to thank Stefano for the services rendered to the club over the past months as senior coach as well as for his contribution to the nursery during his stay at the club.”

Grima, who had been promoted to first-team coach in the summer after serving as Jesmond Zerafa’s assistant last season, expressed his disappointment at the club’s decision in a message on his Facebook page.

“As from today, I’m no longer the coach of Naxxar LFC,” Grima wrote.

“In this very difficult moment, I still want to thank the club for the last positive years and wish them luck for the future.

“Although I may not agree, as I gave my all for the club both at senior and nursery level, I understand these football decisions.”

The young coach had taken over a much-changed squad weakened by the departures of several key players, including all the foreigners, as the club scaled back its annual budget after long-serving president Dione Drago stepped down at the end of last season.

With the Premier League to resume on October 17 after the international break, the Naxxar Lions officials, led by president David Vella, felt that this was the best time to bring in a new coach, moreso as their next game is the derby against high-flying rivals Mosta.

Their choice has fallen on Mizzi who has been out of work since ending his spell at the helm of Tarxien Rainbows at the end of last season.