New Newcastle Jets coach Rob Stanton outlines plans for club
The new Jets coach has outlined his plans on how to turn around the club’s fortunes, citing a couple of areas as being key to success.
The Newcastle News
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Newcastle News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
New Newcastle Jets coach Rob Stanton has stressed the importance of developing local talent and connecting with the community as he takes the reins of the struggling A-League club.
On his first day on the job, Stanton said one of his main priorities was to make the men’s A-League side one that locals could support and identify with.
“What attracted me to Newcastle is that it’s a passionate place,” he said. “That brought me here first and foremost, and I want to ingrain myself here in the community – get to know people, get to know players, get to know good people here in Newcastle, invite good people to this place, because Newcastle people will make the club great.”
Stanton, announced on Monday as the Jets’ new head coach, joins from Sydney FC, where he spent eight seasons as a youth coach and assistant to first team boss Steve Corica.
He replaces Arthur Papas, who last week resigned two years into a three-year deal after being reportedly linked with a move to Asia.
While the team missed the finals in both of Papas’ seasons in charge, finishing ninth in 2021/2022 and then 10th in the most recent campaign, Stanton praised the work of his predecessor, and said he was confident of turning around the fortunes of the struggling club, which has qualified for the finals just once in the last 13 seasons.
“I think the team under Arthur has done a very good job,” he said.
“I think this is a bit of a different situation. It’s not like you’ve sacked Arthur; an opportunity’s come from good work, so we’re in a position where we can build on that foundation, so I think we should acknowledge the good work he’s done for the area. Certainly he’s laid some good foundations, and that’s what attracted me.”
Despite the praise, Stanton stressed that he would put his own stamp on the job.
“I’m a little bit different to Arthur – I really like to connect with the players and people.
“I think it’s really important to make those connections, because I don’t want to distance myself, I want to put myself out there and understand the community and what they want to see in their football team. It should resemble on the park what they see, and I want to put my touch on that and hopefully bring it to life.”
In terms of players, Jacob Dowse, Lucas Mauragis and Lachie Bayliss, who starred for the Mariners’ NPL team, are among the locals or local academy products to have signed with the club in the past couple of weeks, while attacking midfielder Daniel Stynes also re-signed this week.
The recent additions leave three spots left on the Jets’ roster, with Stanton noting that the club is looking to bring in a striker as well as perhaps a couple of experienced players to complement the squad, which is the second youngest in the competition.
“One of the things when you bring people in, and if you get your recruitment right, is they have to fit the environment that you’re going to bring them into,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure I’ve got the right person for the right position.”
He added: “We need a couple of players to bring in just to add to that, but I think the strength lies in the youthfulness of the team. But there are also a lot of players there with a good amount of games and are a good age where they’re getting to that point where success can happen for them. That’s exciting.”
Recruitment has been a sticking point for the club in recent seasons. Given that the Jets have been propped up by a consortium of fellow A-League clubs since January 2021, and still remain on the search for an owner, the club hasn’t had the financial pull to sign big-name or marquee players.
“I know we’re know we’re not the biggest and most resourced club. That’s fine,” said Stanton. “I think it’s been proven this year that at the least-resourced club (Central Coast) you can achieve. It’s how you maximise what you have, how you develop the people, the players, everyone in the community to get to the point where you can be successful.”
The Mariners’ model of focusing on youth development and bringing young locals into the first team is seen as the blueprint the Jets should follow if they are to be successful in the A-League.
It is an approach that should align with Stanton’s experiences, with the 51-year-old having spent several years working in junior development.
“I see the importance of that because that can be the foundation to move forward. But at the same time, they’re only words. I have to do it. I have to find ways to be successful and do that.”
Aside from winning games, Stanton said a focus will be on improving the side’s potency in front of goal. Despite playing some attracting football at times during Papas’ reign, the Jets struggled for goals in the most recent campaign, scoring just 30 in 26 games, the third-worst return in the competition.
“We want to play attacking football,” said Stanton. “That means you have to move the ball into those areas quicker, you need to create more scoring chances. That’s a good point to work off, so we want to improve what we do in the front third. I’ve made some changes as to how the team will be structured but there’s flexibility to make change and alterations.”
The team’s first game under its new coach will be an Australia Cup playoff against Melbourne Victory on July 17.
‘100 per cent’: First look at young rugby players touted as future Wallabies
They have been rivals some days, teammates on others and now this close-knit group of young rugby players will share the honour of wearing an Australian uniform for the first time.
NSW aged care homes: Who meets and fails key targets
NSW aged care residents are not getting the care they are entitled to, as providers reveal the extreme lengths they’re using to hire staff. Search and see the list.