Grech favourite to become new Floriana coach

Premier League club Floriana are close to concluding discussions with Joe Grech to become their new head coach, well-placed sources told The Times last night.

Grech, a member of the MFA coaching staff for the past two seasons, has had a series of talks with the Greens who have reportedly offered him a two-year contract with an option for a third year.

The appointment of a new coach has been a priority for the Greens since the election of a new committee at the club's annual general meeting last week.

Floriana had drawn up a shortlist of three candidates for the job.

John Buttigieg, the former Malta and Floriana defender, had been the first to be approached but he is believed to have declined the offer due to other commitments.

J.J. Aquilina, the former Valletta coach, had also been considered by Floriana but they have now made Grech, whose last post at club level was with Msida St Joseph in 2003-2004, their preferred choice.

Grech, who coached Malta's U-17 team last season, will succeed Jan Artz if he gets the Floriana job. The latter had been named technical director at Floriana in the opening weeks of last season but the early resignation of Jimmy Briffa saw Artz taking charge of first-team matters.

During his nine-month tenure, Artz endured the pressures of a relegation dogfight as Floriana only secured their status in their final league match.

However, in the week after their survival mission, Artz guided Floriana to the FA Trophy final where they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Hibernians.

Meanwhile, Floriana are also striving to strengthen their squad for next season. While their committee have reiterated that they are not interested in transferring any of their players, Floriana want to retain the services of striker Adrian Mifsud and goalkeeper Simon Agius.

Mifsud and Agius were regarded as two fundamental players for Floriana after joining on loan from Sliema and Lija respectively at the start of last season.

The Greens are also willing to re-sign midfielder Joe Brincat. The 36-year-old former Malta international, who figured for Floriana in the mid-90s before moving to Birkirkara and later Sliema, has reportedly been given permission by the Wanderers to speak to other clubs.