Clive Mizzi is just days away from becoming the new coach of Sliema Wanderers after agreeing terms with the Premier League club on a two-year contract.
Last season, Mizzi was in charge of Mqabba. He was approached by the Wanderers earlier this month to replace the departing Danilo Doncic who is seeking to coach elsewhere.
Talks between Mizzi and Sliema were positive with Mizzi now set to coach the Blues until 2014.
At Sliema, he is again expected to be assisted by Renzo Kerr-Cumbo who was also his right-hand man at Mqabba, whose stint in the top flight only lasted one year.
“This is a challenge I’m really looking forward to,” Mizzi, 40, told The Times yesterday.
“Sliema have struggled lately to live up to their billing as one of the leading teams in Malta. This club boast a glorious history but have been without a major honour for a few years now. It takes time to rebuild a squad so I hope the fans will be patient and give us time to assemble a winning team.”
Mizzi’s rebuilding process starts with the return of some Sliema players who were loaned out to other clubs in the past.
Miguel Ciantar, Luca Martinelli and John Mintoff are all expected to feature in the new coach’s plans for next season.
Sliema are also expected to have five new foreign players on their books.
Mizzi has already been in touch with two former Mqabba players, Serbian duo Branislav Timotic and Marko Potezica, and they’re expected to join Sliema in time for pre-season in the last week of June.
Another ex-Mqabba player who could join the Wanderers is combative midfielder David Fenech. He is on the verge of putting pen to paper on a two-year deal.
While it seems that Sliema have completed the search for a new coach the same cannot be said of Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows.
Floriana had Joe Brincat on the hotseat for the second part of the season and the former Malta inter-national succeeded in steering the team to a fourth-place finish which meant Europa League football next season.
However, so far Brincat was not offered a new contract as the Floriana administration is currently facing some difficult moments and unable to plan long-term until a new committee is elected.
“My contract with Floriana ended on the last day of the league and since then they did not come back with a new offer,” Brincat said.
“My future could now depend elsewhere. So, I am ready to con-sider other options.”
Tarxien opted to part ways with Patrick Curmi after a rather disap-pointing season in the Relegation Pool.
It seems that the Rainbows have a shortlist prepared and among the names is that of their former coach Noel Coleiro. The latter is said to be interested but is expected to bide his time before a decision is taken, probably next week.
Meanwhile, Premier League newcomers Melita have confirmed Martin Gregory as their coach for the 2012-13 campaign.
For the former Sliema midfielder, this will be his third season in charge of the Amateurs.