Italian Co-belligerent Army

[Gooner1]

Why was there such a wait before forming the Italian Co-belligerent Army?
The decision to create the six British equipped and trained Italian 'Combat Groups' wasn't given until late July 1944, far too late for them to be available for the campaign that year. Indeed it actually took out the small Italian Liberation Corps - who had been performing well in the advance up the Adriatic - from the Gothic line battles.

Was this just typical Italian theatre schlamperei or was there something nastier behind it?

One issue I can think of is that the quickest way to provide the British equipment needed for the three Italian division equivalents is to transfer three British/Canadian divisions to 21st Army Group leaving most of their stuff behind.