Zammit, Petrone emerge favourites to land City coaching job

Valletta are hopeful of finalising the appointment of a new head coach between today and tomorrow after they obtained encouraging feedback from their two favoured candidates.

Having received notice of J.J. Aquilina's decision to quit his coaching post on Friday, the Valletta committee immediately drew up a shortlist of candidates who satisfied a set of criteria to take over the reins of their first team.

The Times has learnt that Valletta's search for a new coach has focused on two names - Paul Zammit, currently the coach of Premier League club Mosta, and Mario Petrone, the former mentor of Msida St Joseph.

At the time of writing, Zammit was the front runner to succeed Aquilina after fruitful talks with Valletta officials over the weekend. Since Zammit is under contract with Mosta, he must first reach agreement with his current employers over his release from his contractual duties before he can join Valletta. Sources have told The Times that Zammit was due to meet a high-ranking Mosta official yesterday evening.

After steering Mosta to promotion to the Premier League last season, Zammit has been trying to make the most of the limited resources at his disposal this season. Bottom of the league with five points from 10 matches, Mosta yesterday lost 3-1 to Division One side St Patrick in the first round of the FA Trophy.

Valletta have also had contact with Petrone. The Italian coach made a name for himself by leading Msida St Joseph to the final of the FA Trophy last season in his first and only year in charge of the club.

Petrone represents the easier but, in financial terms, more expensive option for Valletta. He is not contracted to any club and very much eager to return to Maltese football.

Contacted by The Times in Italy yesterday, Petrone confirmed that he has been approached by Valletta.

"Valletta called to see if I am interested in becoming their coach," Petrone said. "My answer was yes. Presently, I'm free of any contractual commitments and could take up a new job with immediate effect.

"The ball is in their court now. After the good experience I enjoyed with Msida last season, my wish has been to resume my coaching career in Malta and that's why I chose to bide my time here.

'Reasonable proposal'

"Valletta are one of the most important clubs in Malta and I would be honoured to coach them.

"I believe that my proposal regarding the terms of the contract is very reasonable. Understandably, Valletta have asked for some time to consider their options before making a decision."

Valletta's interest in Zammit and Petrone is a clear indication of the club's willingness to entrust the leadership of their first team to a young coach who has already had experience in Malta's top flight.

The Citizens have been forced to look for a new coach after Aquilina resigned in the wake of showdown talks with high-ranking club officials over the team's performance in the Premier League so far this season.

In comments he gave to The Times, Aquilina said his decision to step down was prompted by a lack of agreement with the committee over the best way to take Valletta FC forward after their rather disappointing start to the season.

"I guess the committee started to panic, a little bit too early in my opinion. There's a lot of matches still to be played and I was convinced we could have improved and reach the Championship Pool.

"Unfortunately, they had different views from mine and I realised that I could no longer carry out my duties adequately and the way I want to," Mr Aquilina told The Times last Friday.

At present, Valletta are joint sixth in the Premier League standings with Pietà Hotspurs on the 11-point mark. Managing only three wins and two draws from ten matches, Valletta have been stuck in the bottom half of the standings for most of the 2005-2006 campaign and are in danger of missing out on a place in the Championship Pool.

Reacting to Aquilina's comments about the factors behind his resignation, Paul Spiteri, the Valletta executive vice-president, rebuffed claims that the committee had begun to panic about the team's performance so far but made it clear that they are anything but happy about their progress.

"Two years ago, Valletta played in the Relegation Pool and that's not a scenario we would like to experience again. Certainly, our ambitions are much higher than that. Something had to be done to turn our season around," Mr Spiteri told The Times.

Valletta's new coach can look forward to a baptism of fire as the team's next Premier League assignment is a derby against bitter rivals Floriana on December 3.