New rule bars coaches from managing more than one team from the same division during a season

Clubs will be no longer able to appoint new coaches in the middle of a season who have been in charge of other teams in the same division during that current campaign, The Times of Malta can confirm.

This new rule is part of a new set of regulations that have been approved by the Malta Football Association Executive Committee and Council.

The rule, which will come into effect as from next season, states that: “A coach whose engagement with a Member Club is terminated may not be engaged with another Member Club in the same division during the same season.”

It’s a common occurrence in football around the world that clubs appoint coaches who had been at the helm of other clubs from the same division during that particular season but had lost their jobs for one reason or another.

If we had to take the 2020-21 Premier League season, which came to an end earlier than expected last month due to COVID-19 restrictions, five clubs, namely Valletta, Tarxien Rainbows, Senglea Athletic, Sirens and Floriana all effected coaching changes throughout the season.

While Valletta, Senglea Athletic, Sirens and Floriana all appointed coaches who were not leading a Premier League club this season, Tarxien Rainbows on the other hand turned to Steve D’Amato to replace Winston Muscat last February.

D’Amato had started the season at the helm of Sirens but was dismissed in November.

After a few months without a job the former Ħamrun Spartans coach was handed the reins of Tarxien Rainbows.

However, under these new regulations such appointment will no longer be permitted.

A spokesman for the Malta Football Association told The Times of Malta that the main idea behind this regulation is to protect the integrity of the game in Malta.