Updated: Farrugia makes U-turn as he resigns as Sliema Wanderers president

Jeffrey Farrugia has resigned as president of Sliema Wanderers this evening just a few hours after the former Blues supremo and the Premier League club denied reports that he had tendered his resignation.

The Times of Malta can reveal that it has in its hands the letter sent by Farrugia to the Malta FA General Secretary Angelo Chetcuti whereby he informed the local governing body of football that he had decided to step down from his post.

Farrugia’s decision comes at the end of a tumultuous day at Sliema Wanderers which had started with several reports on social media that said he had informed the club’s top hierarchy of his decision to step down from his post.

However, when initially contacted by the Times of Malta, Farrugia denied the news.

“No” he said in a message sent to the Times of Malta when asked if he had resigned.

“I am still with Sliema Wanderers.”

Minutes later, the Premier Legue club issued a statement to deny the reports.

“Sliema Wanderers FC categorically deny all rumours circulating in the local media that Club President Jeffrey Farrugia has resigned or will be resigning,” the statement said.

“Our President remains fully committed to his goal of overcoming the current challenges and subsequently bringing the glory days back to our beloved club.”

Farrugia, who took over the reins of the club at the start of the season, has come under severe criticism in the last few weeks due to several administrative problems which has seen the players making an official complaint to the Malta Football Association as they were not being paid their wages.

The Wanderers have been embattled by a number of resignations in recent weeks, namely honorary president Keith Perry, Martin Bonanno, the club’s secretary, and Alex Muscat who left his role of team manager.