Premier League club Pietà Hotspurs, currently engaged in a tight race with three other teams for a berth in the Championship Pool, yesterday announced they had parted ways with Australian Mirko Jurilj.

Jurilj, 28, is a former Parramatta Melita Eagles libero. He arrived in Malta in summer to join Pietà in his first experience in Maltese football.

Club president Edward Schembri yesterday confirmed the news. He said they had terminated Jurilj's contract and will be seeking to engage a new overseas player before the transfer deadline at the end of the month.

Jurilj became the second foreign player to lose his place at Pietà after fellow Australian Danial Cummins was released late last year. This week Pietà signed Italian Giacomo Paniccia who will link up with his compatriot Mauro di Lello in the team.

Schembri also said yesterday that chief goal-getter Malcolm Licari will be facing a long lay-off after Saturday's match against Valletta. He will undergo ankle surgery which could sideline the player for about six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, news that Jurilj is a free player has already attracted the attention of local clubs. In fact, both Valletta and Birkirkara made their first contacts yesterday and were likely to meet the player for talks.