Zesco United have indicated that the future of coach Zlatko Krmpotic will be decided before January 1, 2018.

Zlatko has been sidelined since October 24 and the reins where handed to long-serving assistant coach Tenant Chembo who went on a nine-game unbeaten run to guide Zesco to the 2017 FAZ Super Division title.

Zlatko was appointed head coach in February following George Lwandamina’s departure for Young Africans of Tanzania a year ago.

His reign started off brightly after winning the season- opening Charity Shield but Zesco later struggled to produce convincing results both in the league and the CAF Confederation Cup.

The highlight came in October with Zesco’s failure to defend the Barclays Cup after Napsa Stars eliminated them in the semifinals.

“I can’t give you the status now we are going for the break so let people celebrate, but when we have our final year executive meeting, I am sure from that meeting we will decide the way forward,” Zesco CEO Justin Mumba said.

“What is important is that Tenant has proved he can do it and he has done it and I must say I am happy for him and I must say congratulations to him.”

Chembo had previously finished second twice in charge of Zesco in 2016, when he was in interim charge after Lwandamina’s departure, and in 2013 as head coach.

“Tenant is the stand-in head coach and together with the technical committee they now need to look at the squad if we need to reinforce that’s their job now and I think they have enough time now in the off-season,” Mumba said.

“For Zlatko he played his part his contributed his part and maybe his philosophy didn’t just work.”