Birkirkara FC acted swiftly to appoint a new first-team coach as yesterday they handed the job to Patrick Curmi who put pen to paper on a two-year contract.
Curmi, whose three-year deal with Marsaxlokk expired this month, succeeds Paul Zammit who was not offered a new contract by the Stripes committee last week.
John Borg, Birkirkara FC vice-president, told The Sunday Times that he was satisfied that the club had managed to reach a deal with Curmi, their top target for the job.
“I’m delighted that we reached an accord with Patrick Curmi who is a coach we have admired for many years,” Borg said.
“When we started our search for a new coach he was top of the list. He is only focused on his job and always manages to create an ideal atmosphere among his players. We have no doubt that he is the right man for the job and will be able to put Birkirkara back among the leading challengers for next season.”
For Curmi this will be his first experience with one of the top teams in Malta and the ex-Msida coach is relishing the new challenge.
“I’m looking forward to start this new adventure with Birkirkara,” he said.
“I know that Birkirkara have high expectations for next season and I will do my best to try and continue on the good work carried out by my predecessor and help the club reach their ambitions.
“I would like to thank Marsaxlokk for giving me the opportunity of leading their team for the past three seasons. I feel that it was a positive spell during which the club have managed to reach their objectives.”
Curmi’s first task at Birkirkara will be to prepare the team for next month’s Europa League qualifiers and in the coming days the Stripes are expected to step up their quest to bring in the necessary reinforcements.
Spanish goalkeeper Jorge Mora, who was a member of the title-winning side in 2010, is expected to make a return to the Birkirkara fold after he reached a preliminary agreement with the Stripes.
The future of Emiliano Lattes looks uncertain, however, as talks over a new deal seem to have stalled.