The department of state for Youth and Sports' unwillingness to approve the appointment of a foreign coach to lead The Gambia Scorpions in their quest for a place at the 2010 World Cup and Nations Cup finals, has left The Gambia Football Association in the dust. With less than one month to Gambia's Group Six opener against Liberia, in Monrovia, The Gambia Football Association may be forced to opt for a local coach (against the will of many football lovers) to guide the ill-prepared Scorpions.

The sports department was recently presented with a Belgian coach in the person of Paul Put by the national football's governing body, but the former's reluctancy to approve the Belgian's appointment means that the Scorpions' hope in the qualifier campaign leaves a lot to be desired.

Sources close to the Youth and Sports department have it that the Italian coach, Lorenzo Rubinacci, may be elevated to assist the current caretaker coach, Bonu Johnson, to guide the Scorpions, though the Italian, who has been assigned to lead the Under 20 team, has repeatedly stated that he could not take charge of the senior team since he is only a developmental coach.

Football pundits who spoke to Observer Sports yesterday, revealed that a possible appointment of a local coach to guide the Scorpions will not be the best decision.

"If we appoint a local coach for the Scorpions, then we should not expect anything from the qualifier campaign. It may be late to appoint a foreign coach, but it's better late than never," a pundit who preferred anonymity told Observer Sports.

"Hiring a foreign coach for the Scorpions is in the interest of all and this must be the priority of not only the football association but also the department of state for Youth and Sports who are the providers."

Peter Bonu Johnson is the leading candidate to guide the Scorpions in case no foreign coach is named, but many believe the former Under 20 coach is a better choice for the youth team rather than the senior team.