Vittoriosa Stars will have a new coach next season after they parted company with Winston Muscat by mutual consent.

Muscat had another year left on his deal but the two parties are believed to have exercised an option to terminate their contract after two seasons.

The former St Patrick coach took charge of the Reds before the start of season 2009/10 after the club had clinched promotion to the Premier League only to be demoted back to Division One in the opening weeks of the campaign after a former club official was embroiled in a match-fixing scandal.

Muscat steered the team back into the top flight but was unable to save Vittoriosa from relegation this season despite the Stars earning praise for a string of positive performances.

Vittoriosa are in the process of drawing up a shortlist of candidates for the coaching post.

Their relegation means that Vittoriosa are unlikely to retain the Brazilian quarter they had this season but they are in talks to extend the contract of Nigerian forward Anthony Ewurum.

Meanwhile, another Nigerian striker, Obinna Obiefule, is poised to continue his career in Norway after he was offered a one-year contract by Sandnes Ulf.

Obiefule, who turned out for Sliema Wanderers this season, has left a good impression during his trial with the Norwegian second-division club.