Clive Mizzi has taken over the coaching reins at struggling Senglea Athletic, as the club aim to change their fortunes in what has been a difficult season so far.

Mizzi comes fresh from a positive experience with Zebbug Rangers in the BOV First Division, which has since been rebranded as the Challenge League. His place at Zebbug has been filled by Italian coach Fausto Craighero, who coached Pembroke Athleta FC for the second half of last season.

Mizzi brings with him coaching experience with a number of clubs, having coached Pieta’ Hotspurs, Mqabba, Sliema Wanderers, Tarxien Rainbows, Naxxar Lions, Mqabba, and Zebbug.

He replaces Senglea’s caretaker manager Ryan Newell, who has coached the club since last month after the sudden departure of Senglea’s Serbian coach Goran Nikic very early on in the season.

Newell will remain within the coaching staff as Mizzi’s assistant, while Michael Baldacchino has also been appointed as the club’s physical trainer.

In a short statement, Senglea thanked Noel Azzopardi and Dean Sciberras for their work as assistant coach and physical trainer respectively.

Senglea are currently bottom of the Premier League, having taken only one point out of six games – a point which came from a 1-1 draw against newly promoted Zejtun Corinthians.

That is the only goal that they have scored in the whole season, but they have conceded 16 goals in total. The last straw seems to have been a resounding 5-0 loss against Tarxien Rainbows – who were only saved from relegation last season by a vote from all MFA clubs – over the weekend.