Bjorn Vassallo has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Malta FA.

Presiding over the first council meeting since his election as Malta FA president earlier this month, Norman Darmanin Demajo’s proposal to hand the newly-created CEO job to Vassallo, who also had the backing of the Executive Committee, was approved by acclamation by the members.

The introduction of a new administrative structure for the Malta FA was one of the top items on the agenda of yesterday’s council meeting, the first for season 2010/11.

“One of the biggest challenges we encountered on taking over the leadership of the association was the absence of a sound administrative structure,” Darmanin Demajo told the assembly. “The MFA is a massive organisation which should be run on the same lines as a company.

“In order to improve the association’s efficiency, we believe that the MFA should have a Chief Executive Officer,” Darmanin Demajo added.

“The idea is that the president be assisted by a CEO and the general secretary.”

The council’s decision to endorse Vassallo’s candidacy for the post of CEO drew praise from Darmanin Demajo who extolled the San Ġwann FC’s official qualities to occupy this important position within the MFA hierarchy.

Vassallo, one of Darmanin Demajo’s closest allies, will relinquish his duties as member of the Executive Committee, committee member of San Ġwann FC and president of the Division Two Clubs Standing Committee as he takes up his new post.

In a short address at the start of the meeting, Darmanin Demajo had reiterated his willingness to work with all the members of the local football family.

“I don’t have problems with anyone,” Darmanin Demajo said. “I’m willing to work with everyone. Differences emerge when there is an election but this belongs to the past. Now we should concentrate our efforts on achieving one common aim... to take Maltese football forward.”

As part of the restructuring exercise, the three Malta FA vice-presidents, namely Carmelo Bartolo, who was confirmed as senior vice-president yesterday, Alex Manfre and Ludovico Micallef, and Joe Gauci, the general secretary, will be directly responsible for a clutch of departments.

The composition of the various Malta FA boards and the office holders for season 2010/11 were also announced yesterday. The Malta FA’s top brass have appointed a multitude of new members to the various boards and committees.

The most conspicuous and significant change concerns Dutch coach Vic Hermans who has been appointed director of the technical centre. Hermans has also been confirmed in his role as national futsal coach.

To mark the election of Darmanin Demajo as president of the MFA, the council members yesterday approved an amnesty to persons who are serving bans imposed by the local governing body. The amnesty doesn’t apply to those who have been punished for offences related to bribery and doping.

Under the amnesty, persons who are serving long-term suspensions will have their term of punishment reduced by 12 months.

National team

Towards the end of the meeting, Darmanin Demajo spoke about the on-going differences between clubs and the national coaches over the release of players for training with the national teams.

The Malta FA president appealed to the clubs to leave things as they are for the next two weeks in view of the national team’s opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Israel and Latvia, assuring them that the issue will be re-addressed after September 7.

Meanwhile, the MFA have been informed by UEFA that Sliema have been fined €5,000 for having two unregistered players – Luca Martinelli and Andrew Caligari – on their teamsheet for the Europa League match against Croatia’s FC Sibenik.

Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici and Joe Mifsud, two former MFA presidents, were yesterday named honorary presidents of the association.

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