Former Malta national football coach Tom Saintfiet has taken on a job as the national coach of Gambia and has signed a nine-month contract, Gambian Football Association has announced.

Back in April, the Malta Football Association had relieved Saintfiet of his duties after local and international media reports reported that he had applied to be the next coach of Cameroon after the BBC revealed a list of coaches who had applied for the post.

His tenure was terminated with immediate effect, although Saintfiet had denied the charges.

Saintfiet, who will be formally introduced to Gambia today as their new national coach, has been hired for a nine-month period.

His contract comes with Gambia a one particular caveat: he must see Gambia qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup and his contract, in fact, expires, at the end of the African Cup qualifying period.

Saintfiet has served at the helm of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Yemen, Malawi, Togo, Bangladesh and Trinidad and Tobago, and, finally, Malta.

The Gambian Football Association said in a statement that it will pay the salary of the coach and other associated costs, while the Gambian government “is trying to secure funding to take over its responsibilities and all other necessary costs related the Coach and National teams”.

“Mr Tom has a wide range of knowledge and experience in coaching National Teams across the world, particularly in Africa. Given his vast knowledge and experience in coaching we trust that he will help advance all aspect of Gambian football during his reign."