Marsaxlokk have confirmed English coach Brian Talbot as their coach for the coming season.

The southern seasiders, who have relinquished the title to Valletta, have also decided to name Peter Hartshorne as Talbot’s assistant. They will have to name a replacement for him as team manager.

In the meantime, it is evident that they will be facing a struggle to keep some of their top players, including Jamie Pace and Cleaven Frendo, who are thought to be on the wanted list of some clubs.

Valletta seem to be the favourites as club president Victor Sciriha, a former president of Marsaxlokk, seems to have an option on the two players, as well as some others on the books of Marsaxlokk FC.

And the city president went on record the past few days saying that he wanted to enlarge his current squad in the first step to turn the club on professional lines.