Moon released as PNGFA set to announce new coach this week

Warren Moon guiding PNG Kapuls during the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. Moon has been terminated from his coaching post by PNGFA (Supplied)

The Papua New Guinea men's national team coach Warren Moon has been released from his contract with a new coach expected to be announced this week.

Papua New Guinea Football Association president John Kapi Natto told NBC News that a new coach has been appointed and will arrive in the country this week.

Moon agreed to part ways with PNGFA following his short stint where he guided the Kapuls to the 2023 Pacific Games and this year's OFC Men's Championship after his contract was extended in February.

He was required by PNGFA to base in Port Moresby to monitor the Kapuls preparations, but, refused the decision, hence his contract termination.

Kapi Natto said the incoming coach is a familiar face in the region and will be given a three-year deal where he will be based in Port Moresby to prepare the senior men's football squad for the upcoming Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

"We had to remove Warren Moon, our past national coach, because we asked him to come and live in the country and work with our national teams, prepare them for the World Cup qualifier….he couldn't come," Kapi Natto told NBC News in an exclusive interview.

"Therefore, the ESCO member says, if a coach doesn't want to live here, a technical person doesn't want to live in the country, then we've got to remove him.

"He's accepted it, so we terminated the continuation of his contract.

"We're bringing a coach and he's a technical person, and he's going to live in PNG for three years.

"He wants to develop from the youth development to all the way up to senior level.

"I have strong faith in this guy to try and fill in the gap of the technical area."

Moon was appointed to the coaching post in 2023 on a short-term spell where he was tasked to lead the PNG men to the Solomon Islands games.

PNG bowed out of Pacific Games on a devastating note but the former Brisbane Roars coach engagement with PNGFA was further extended with a specific job for World Cup qualifiers.

Kapi Natto admitted that the men's national team have gone downhill in recent international tournaments but was adamant the inclusion of the new mentor could potentially get Kapuls back on par.