The Malta FA’s project to create an academy-like set-up for the country’s most promising young footballers is gaining momentum.

This week, Argentine coach Sergio Soldano, initially employed on a part-time basis, has been handed a permanent deal by the association.

Soldano, who was involved in the international soccer schools of Serie A clubs Inter and Parma in the past, was introduced to the members of the MFA Executive Committee on Tuesday.

Since his recruitment by the Malta FA, Soldano has been visiting the islands once every month to conduct training and supervise the development of 13- and 14-year-olds along with the other MFA youth coaches, led by technical director Robert Gatt.

Under the new agreement, Soldano will be based in Malta to oversee the technical part of the MFA’s grassroots project which is aimed at giving up-and-coming prospects the best chance to maximise their potential and raise the level of the national teams in the future.

Meanwhile, Vic Hermans has relinquished his post as national futsal coach after coming to an agreement with the MFA to terminate his contract which had an-other five months left to run.

Assistant coach Kevin Mifsud is the favourite to succeed Hermans.