Changes at Marsaxlokk

Maltese champions Marsaxlokk FC start their 2007/08 league campaign with coach Brian Talbot still reeling from the big changes that hit the club this summer, writes Domenic Aquilina in UEFA.com:

..The English coach took plaudits for Marsaxlokk's maiden title success last season, but he gave Scriha and general manager Peter Hartshorne credit for assembling the side which did so. "I coached the players and worked with them on a daily basis but all I had to do was prepare them," he said. "Basically, I had the best players available on the island."

The amount of money spent on players has mystified Talbot somewhat since he came to Malta. "Clubs should get their house in order before they spend so much money on players," he said. "Clubs have got to get their facilities correct in terms of grass or artificial pitches, get full-time coaches and try to get their players together every day. Without these concepts it is very hard to improve."

Marsaxlokk, meanwhile, have done their best to rebuild in time for the start of the new campaign. Brazilians André, Renato Conceição and Wendell Gomes have come in along with Birkirkara FC's Willian Camenzuli. Talbot is still hoping to persuade top scorer Bogdanovic to return if he fails to secure his longed-for move to a foreign club. "If he stays in Malta we want to keep him," said Talbot. "I only had him for one season and he got 31 goals, so all I have are words of praise for him. I definitely want him to come to Marsaxlokk. No question - we will welcome him back."

MaltaFootball.com: Marsaxlokk start the season tomorrow