Sliema Wanderers are in advanced talks with an experienced Czech player to join their ranks for next season.

Zdenek Svoboda, a 34-year-old midfielder who has represented his country at international level, is believed to have accepted Sliema's offer of a one-year contract.

Sources have told The Times that Sliema were informed about Svoboda's availability a couple of months ago. The Wanderers have been impressed by Svoboda's curriculum vitae which includes a 10-year spell with Czech Republic club Sparta Prague.

Svoboda is poised to take up the foreigner spot likely to be vacated by Danilo Doncic. The experienced striker, scorer of 151 goals in eight seasons in Maltese football, is out of contract and Sliema have already indicated that the Serb does not figure in their plans for next season.

The other non-Maltese players in Sliema's squad are Nigerian goalkeeper Murphy Akanji and Mauro Di Lello, the Italian defender.

The Wanderers are also pursuing a host of local transfer targets, including Mosta's promising midfielder Dyson Falzon and Ian Azzopardi, the Floriana defender.

Oliver Spiteri to coach Marsaxlokk in Intertoto

Marsaxlokk have reached agreement with Oliver Spiteri to take charge of their team for their Intertoto Cup first round assignment against Bosnian opposition later this month.

Working in tandem with the more experienced Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia, Spiteri helped Marsaxlokk to a third place finish last season.

With Farrugia ruled out of the equation for the temporary Marsaxlokk job due to his commitments with the Zazu Football School, Marsaxlokk succeeded in persuading Spiteri to guide their team in their European adventure.

Spiteri's agreement covers Marsa-xlokk's Intertoto Cup commitments (first leg: June 17/18; second leg: June 24/25) as English coach Brian Talbot, the former Hibernians mentor, has already signed a contract to coach the southerners for the next two seasons.