Sliema Wanderers yesterday officially presented Clayton Failla as one of their major signings for the new season to the media.
The 23-year old midfielder, a product of St Patrick, has joined the Wanderers from Hibernians after agreeing terms for a five-year contract in a move that is part of a strategic long-term plan for one of the leading and most successful clubs in Malta.
Although no financial details were disclosed, Failla cost Sliema a hefty sum and was offered an attractive package to beat competition from other local clubs.
The transfer was financed by honorary club president Robert Arrigo, who is still supporting the club with his sponsorship.
Speaking to the media at the club premises yesterday, president Stephen Abela said that they had long been tracking Failla, who fits in well in the set-up of a glorious club like Sliema Wanderers.
Mr Abela said that Failla is only their first signing and hinted that some five or six other new players will follow in the next few days as the club intends to strengthen the squad and challenge for all major honours in the near future.
In fact defender Josef Mifsud (formerly of Sliema) has rejoined the Wanderers from Valletta for the next five years and striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's transfer is also in the pipeline as they await to sign the papers with his club Birkirkara. According to the Sliema president, Mifsud Triganza will join for the coming four years. Sliema also await confirmation from Hamrun Spartans to sign midfielder Ryan Fenech on loan for one season while the Wanderers are in talks with a foreign striker as well as an under-21 Malta international who plays in the First Division.
Asked where do the Sliema-bred youths figure in all this set-up, Stephen Abela said that the club's youngsters are still in their plans and hopefully some will establish themselves in the first team this coming season, although fewer would be given space now. But Sliema intend to loan out their youngsters to other clubs in lower Divisions to enable them gain more experience.
In a short comment, Clayton Failla himself thanked the Sliema president and Robert Arrigo personally for making his move possible but also had words of praise and gratitude for the committee of his former club Hibernians, with whom he enjoyed much of the success last season. Failla is in fact a big favourite to win the MFA Player of the Year award and he hopes to keep on winning more honours with Sliema Wanderers as well.