The Malta FA are to initiate talks with the FIGC over Pietro Ghedin after the latter, who is currently in charge of Italy’s women’s team, was earmarked as the no.1 candidate for the national coach’s job.
Ghedin’s existing deal runs out in July but the MFA will be asking their Italian counterparts to release the 59-year-old earlier.
While confirming the MFA Executive Committee’s decision to en-dorse Ghedin’s nomination as the prime contender for the job, Norman Darmanin Demajo outlined the circumstances that led the association to approach the Italian who already had a spell at the helm of the national side in the 1990s.
“Ghedin’s visit in February had been planned a month-and-a-half before,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“It came during the time when we received confirmation from Dusan Fitzel that he was staying put. I seized the opportunity to see if Ghedin was interested and he neither said yes nor no.
“That encouraged us to pursue the matter further. I spoke to Robert Gatt (technical director) about it as the two had worked together in the past. Ghedin is a knowledgeable coach. All those who remember his time here speak very highly of him.
“Furthermore, we had said beforehand that we were leaning towards the Italian school as two other key posts in our technical set-up are also filled by two Italian-speaking personnel, Sergio Soldano, head coach of the academy, and Luca Pagani, the national teams’ physical tainer.
“When we spoke to Ghedin, he indicated that he was keen on a fresh challenge and invited us to discuss the matter with the FIGC.
“Given the good relationship we have with the FIGC, I don’t envisage any problems in reaching an agreement over his release after the final two qualifiers of the women’s team.”
In the aftermath of the MFA’s decision to part ways with John Buttigieg, whose deal had more than two years left to run, Darmanin Demajo had intimated that the next national coach would be offered a contract for the duration of one qualifying campaign but he and the MFA brass have changed tack.
The MFA president revealed that he has proposed a longer contract for Ghedin, adding: “One qualifying competition runs for 18 months and that is too short. Thus, we will probably offer him a deal that will cover two editions which span three-and-a-half years.”
Darmanin Demajo is convinced that the MFA have made the right decision to target Ghedin.
“We have fast-tracked Ghedin’s candidature because he satisfies all our criteria. From the feedback I’ve received, I believe that the decision to recommend his candidature for the post of the national coach is the right one.
“I also hope that his experience in women’s football would also boost the women’s game in Malta.”
Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO, said that they were looking to hold talks with the FIGC this month.
Vassallo is hopeful that the MFA will get the green light to finalise Ghedin’s appointment in the period April-May so that he will take charge of Malta’s friendly away to Luxembourg on June 2.
While the MFA have been heartened by the significant progress in their pursuit of Ghedin, not so can be said of their impasse with Buttigieg, the former Malta coach, and his assistant Carmel Busuttil.
Buttigieg and Busuttil have received compensation for the premature termination of their contracts but Darmanin Demajo yesterday said that, through their lawyer, the two coaches have informed the MFA that they have no intention to apologise for their decision to file a judicial protest against the MFA.
The coaching licences of the two have been suspended after the MFA council deemed that they had violated the MFA’s statute by lodging a judicial protest.
“My position has always been that we should try to resolve this matter as quickly as possible,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“We decided that, as far as the compensation matter was concerned, we were going to settle the payment without delay.
“We also suggested that, as a goodwill gesture, Buttigieg and Busuttil write a letter saying that they were not conversant with the regulations of the MFA and express their regret over the matter.
“However, their lawyer has written back saying that, under no circumstances, will his clients recognise that they have broken the MFA’s statute.”
After a lengthy discussion, the assembly accepted a proposal from Birkirkara’s council member Adrian Delia, himself a lawyer, to mediate between the two parties.
Financial Fair Play
Vassallo yesterday spoke about the Financial Fair Play Club Licensing forum held last weekend.
While expressing his regret that 50 per cent of the presidents of Premier League and Division One clubs did not attend, Vassallo said the forum discussed the concept of sustainability as decreed by UEFA.
As Maltese clubs don’t generate a revenue of €5m, the break-even rule doesn’t apply to local football but UEFA are still demanding that the rules be adapted to reflect the realities of the Maltese game.
Vassallo said the MFA’s financial fair play rules will focus on three key points for clubs – no unpaid wages, no debts with other clubs and no pending tax bills.
The rules will come into force in season 2014/15.
Towards the end of the meeting yesterday, some council members proposed the reinstatement of regulations prohibiting Division Two and Three clubs from signing foreign players.
It was also announced that Jesmond Abela is to take up a full-time job with the MFA as operations manager of the technical centre from June 1.
Darmanin Demajo said Abela had the right credentials for the job as he has great knowledge of Maltese football, including the youth sector.
Jesmond Caruana is the new president of Lija Athletic after Charles Scerri decided to bring the curtains down on his long tenure at the helm of the club.