Danilo Doncic was yesterday named coach of Sliema Wanderers after the Premier League club decided to relieve Mark Marlow of his duties.

He’s back… Danilo Doncic has revived his association with Sliema after being named coach of the Wanderers yesterday. Doncic had a successful spell with the Blues in the final years of his playing career.

The members of Sliema’s committee met yesterday evening to discuss the coach’s position after their 4-1 defeat to Valletta last Saturday severely dented the Blues’ flickering chances of forcing their way into the Championship Pool.

It is understood that the Sliema officials, headed by president Steve Abela, resolved to change their coach in the hope of reviving their team’s fortunes.

Doncic, himself a former Sliema Wanderers striker, is believed to have been the only candidate for the job. The Serbian is known to have been willing to take charge of a Premier League club after terminating his contract with Greek Super League club Kavala in December.

After working as assistant coach with Lokomotiv Sofia and Kavala as first-team assistant coach, Doncic was adamant that his next job would be as head coach.

Marlow, who took charge of training yesterday evening, was informed of Sliema’s decision at the end of the committee meeting.

Having reached a verbal agreement with club president Abela last night, Doncic is expected to sign an 18-month contract with Sliema in the coming days. Before joining Dragomir Okuka’s backroom staff at Lokomotiv Sofia in 2008, Doncic was in charge of Floriana for one season.

Last year, Sliema had also opted to appoint a new coach in midseason with Marlow, who had previously guided Msida St Joseph, replacing Stephen Azzopardi, now at Qormi, in January.

Doncic’s first task is to lift the players’ morale ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby with Floriana as a win in that match could revive the Blues’ Championship Pool bid.

Sliema received a boost late yesterday evening after being informed by the Malta FA registrations department that the international transfer certificate of Etienne Barbara had arrived.

The 28-year-old Barbara agreed a short-term contract to rejoin Sliema last Friday but the late completion of the deal triggered fears that American club Carolina Railhawks may not manage to send the striker’s ITC before yesterday’s transfer deadline.

Barbara is now set to make his debut for Sliema Wanderers in Sunday’s clash with Floriana, the team he had intended to join after returning from the United States late last year.

It also emerged yesterday that Sliema turned down an offer from Hibs to sign their former wingback Clayton Failla.