Justin Attard appointed Floriana FC president

Floriana FC have announced that Justin Attard has been appointed as president of the club.

The boxing promoter has replaced Frank Agius, who was only appointed as club president in June.

Justin Attard will be flanked by Dione Borg as club secretary and Mark Frendo as treasurer while Frank Agius has now been appointed vice-president and administrator. Paul Xuereb, Lyton Debbatista, Anthony Stellini are the other members of the new administration.

The club has had a tumultuous summer after the departure of the controversial Johann Said from the club's helm.

An Albanian company, involved in the betting industry, was very close to conclude a deal to sponsor the club and bring over a number of foreign players, however the Malta Football Association advised the club to sever its ties with the Albanian company.

The MFA's CEO Bjorn Vassallo told MaltaToday that the association did not issue any directive to Floriana FC regarding any sponsorship or registration matter as "it is not MFA policy to meddle in the internal affairs of clubs."

Vassallo however confirmed that following a request made for a meeting between the two parties, "during which advice was sought by Floriana FC regarding the proposed agreement and registration of various players, the MFA expressed the opinion, that the registration of the said players under the conditions as presented, was not in the best interest of Floriana FC."

However, in renewed attempts to attract investors, Floriana FC is reportedly close to signing an agreement with a British entrepreneur to invest in the club.

Sources who spoke to MaltaToday claim that new investment interest from the UK could see former England international and Liverpool defender Mark Wright take the role of coach for embattled Floriana, which recently lost Ivan Woods.

He won 45 caps for the English national football team, and was a member of the team which reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990

The connection comes through Wright's former post at Chester, which was until recently owned by boxing promoter Stephen Vaughan.

The latter has owned Barrow A.F.C. and Chester City football clubs, and has served as chairman of both. His periods as chairman of the two clubs initially saw both succeed on the pitch, but both ended due to Vaughan's involvement in criminal investigations.

In 2009, Vaughan failed the FA's fit and proper person test, barring him from having any involvement in football following his admission of VAT fraud.