Australian Paul Smalley has changed his mind and decided to take the job offered by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for the post of technical and strategic director and the former New Zealand technical director has agreed to arrive here in mid-August.

The game's governing body had earlier decided to appoint Smalley following a fruitful meeting with the BFF president in June, but the 50-year-old was hesitant to take up the job in Bangladesh following the militant attack at Gulshan in July.

“We have been in touch since his [Smalley's] visit to Bangladesh, but it had been in a modest stage following the recent incident in Dhaka, but at the moment we are working on an agreement. We expect his arrival in the middle of August,” said BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag.

As a three-member FIFA delegation is also scheduled to arrive here in mid-August, the BFF is trying to rope in Smalley so he can present the BFF's plan before the delegation.

“As we have to present a future plan before the FIFA delegation, we want Smalley to present it,” said Shohag, adding that they were considering signing Smalley to a two-year deal.

Shohag also informed that Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet would return Bangladesh on August 18 and that they would sign a three-month deal with Saintfiet the next day.

The BFF is also trying to reappoint German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler as well as appointing a South African fitness trainer for the national football team ahead of the September 6 tie against Bhutan.