Fitzel plans to see out contract

Dusan Fitzel has no intention of quitting his post before his contract expires in December.

Whispers that the Czech may step down had grown louder in recent months but Fitzel told The Times that he is set on seeing out his contract.

Asked if tonight's qualifier against Sweden would be his last competitive match in charge of Malta, Fitzel replied: "No. I intend to honour my contract which runs out in December."

The future of Fitzel as Malta coach first came up for discussion last October when, on the eve of Malta's qualifier away to Denmark, he told The Times that he planned to review his position after the home match against Hungary which was played five days after the 3-0 defeat in Copenhagen.

A few weeks later, Fitzel made it known that he had decided to stay but rumours about his future have resurfaced over the past few weeks.

The Czech insisted that he has not made a decision on his future beyond the end of his contract with the Malta FA.

"I don't know what I will do after my contract with the MFA runs out," Fitzel said.

"First, I have to see what the MFA's intentions are."

Fitzel also rejected speculation that he had been considered for the post of Czech national coach, which was given to Frantisek Straka.

"I wasn't approached over the job as national coach of the Czech Republic," Fitzel said.

"I guess if there was some interest, I would have been the first one to know but this was not the case."