Pieta Hotspurs are reported to have rejected offers from Birkirkara for two of their players – striker Ivan Woods and defender Chris Okoh.

Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, are now having second thoughts about a possible transfer of striker Etienne Barbara to the Stripes. Instead he may join Sliema Wanderers.

The Stripes had been linked to a January move for Ivan Woods as were champions Sliema, but Pieta have declared that Woods is not for sale.

Okoh was already a Birkirkara player three years ago and the Stripes wanted him back to bolster their defence in the race for the title.

The Stripes’ remaining hope appears to be Etienne Barbara, but it seems as if Marsaxlokk are finding it difficult to release the player. It is an open secret that Barbara had been a target for Birkirkara even during the past summer months.

Zammit: “We threw away three points”

Birkirkara chairman Victor Zammit yesterday quashed rumours that the club had taken ‘certain decisions’ following the 4-2 defeat at the hands of Hibernians last Sunday.

Birkirkara led Hibernians 2-0 midway through the first half. In the second half, with the score at 2-1, they had international midfielder George Mallia sent off and they collapsed under some strong Hibs pressure, conceding three further goals to lose the match 4-2.

Zammit said: “We threw away three points. We should have been able to administer that 2-0 lead comfortably. But we missed Mallia in midfield after he was sent off.

“In January we will be trying to strengthen the squad. It is not true that we will be releasing some players. We want to bring in more players. We will be discussing Sunday’s match as we usually do and then formulate our plans for next month’s transfer window. We have some players in mind, but we already know it will not be easy,” he said.