By Ledgerhood Rennie BBC Sport Online, Monrovia

Kadallah Kromah has been made the new manager of the Lone Star, Liberia's national team.

But Kromah's appointment comes at a time when several people in the country's football community have called for the employment of a foreign coach, who could reverse Liberia's floundering fortunes.

Kromah takes over from the former AC Milan striker and African footballer of the year, George Weah, who narrowly missed out on getting Liberia to the 2002 World Cup Finals.

The new coach has said that he intends to find domestic league talent capable of playing for the Lone Star.

"I am starting at home first before looking abroad.

"I want to lift the standard of football within Liberia, which has tremendous talent. But Liberians will have to be patient," Kromah told BBC Sport Online in Monrovia.

Poor quality

Kromah said the European-based players cannot expect to have automatic places in his national team.

"Except for Prince Daye, who plays in a high-level league, most of our players abroad are currently in sub-standard leagues."

Kromah said he wants a Lone Star side largely made up of home-based talent, with a sprinkling of foreign-based stars.

With a 2004 African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea on 8 September, Kromah acknowledges he has little time to get the team in shape.

"I am going to begin very intensive training, as we have limited time but I'm confident of getting the required support from government," he said.

Kromah, presently head of the University of Liberia's physical education department, has coached Ghanaian club Accra Hearts of Oak and Rangers International in Nigeria.