Work pressure forces Aquilina to quit Valletta coaching job after just one season

Premier League club Valletta will be looking to appoint their fifth coach in as many years after J.J. Aquilina yesterday informed president Charles Camilleri that he will not sign a one-year contract extension due to work pressure.

Aquilina, an employee in the travel business, was offered another one year contract before the team played in last month's UEFA Intertoto Cup.

The first signs indicated that the Citizens will again be under Aquilina's charge after an impressive run in the Premier League last season. However, that all changed after the team was knocked out by Serbia's Budnucnost and the coach failing to adjust his shift at his place of work. The conditions would have left him away from the team during late training sessions for most of the week.

"It's a pity but my work takes precedence," he said. "I was unable to change my schedule and that left me in an awkward position.

"Those close to me know that I take my coaching very seriously and at Valletta I could not carry out my duties the way I wanted to.

"There was no other option. I informed the club of my decision. This was not easy. It was a memorable season for me... the team did really well. My relationship with the players and fans was excellent.

"This will be hard to take but life goes on. Football is part of my life. I will take my time to settle down but when I'm OK I will seek to start coaching again."

In a statement last night, the Valletta committee thanked Aquilina for his services to the club and added that over the weekend they will be meeting to discuss the issue at length.

Valletta were a dominant force in the late 90s with Edward Aquilina and Krassimir Manolov at the helm. However, after the latter's departure in 2001, the club failed to find a coach with a long-term plan to satisfy them.

Bulgarian Manolov was succeeded by compatriot Georgi Deanov who was sacked one year later to make way for Dennis Fenech.

Former Valletta midfielder Fenech only lasted one season and was replaced by Atanas Marinov, another Bulgarian. Last summer, Marinov moved to Marsaxlokk and J.J. Aquilina was hired to fill his void.