Watching Central Coast get thumped 8-2 has done nothing to dampen Mike Mulvey’s enthusiasm
IT was an X-rated viewing that showed him the magnitude of the task ahead, but incoming Mariners boss Mike Mulvey insists his new side’s 8-2 loss to Newcastle hasn’t changed his enthusiasm for the role.
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IT was an X-rated viewing that showed him the magnitude of the task ahead, but incoming Mariners boss Mike Mulvey insists his new side’s 8-2 loss to Newcastle on Saturday night hasn’t changed his enthusiasm for the role.
Central Coast’s calamitous season reached a new low with a record defeat against their local rivals, ending the season bottom of the table.
After watching from the stands, Mulvey will get to work immediately with an overhaul of the squad as a matter of urgency.
“The one thing it shows me is that we need to look forward,” Mulvey said. “We need stability and a strong culture at the club, on the pitch and in the dressing room.
“I came here with an open mind, and I watched the game with interest. Now the season is over and we need to think about what’s to come. The game was what it was, it’s in the past now.
“The person I feel sorry for is (retiring leftback) Josh Rose, ending his career on a note like that. But he made the point that it’s easy to make changes when you’ve hit rock bottom.”
Mulvey said the defeat hadn’t changed his view of the task ahead, particularly given the situation the last time he was appointed to an A-League club.
“When I took over Brisbane they too had hit rock bottom, they were stuck in ninth place,” Mulvey said. “All teams go through difficult cycles, and I’m looking forward to getting to work.
“Recruitment becomes key, and we need to bring in players who can help us to build that culture.
“We’ll have a review of all practices at the club, the training loads, the sports science, and the boys are in training until May 11 so that gives me a chance to see the players a bit more.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Ernie Merrick’s joy at the result – and the apparent return to form of his side after three defeats – was tempered by the loss of Ben Kantarovski with a hamstring tear likely to end his season ahead of the finals.
Kantarovski had just switched to centreback to cover for injured captain Nigel Boogaard, who is almost certainly out for the rest of the campaign too.
It leaves Merrick’s defensive cover at breaking point, but the Jets boss said he would reshuffle his pack once more.
“It’s always been the blueprint,” Merrick said of his side’s performance. “I’ve just had to change the personnel and it looks like I’m going to have to do it again if we don’t have the centre-backs that we were thinking about.
“I don’t know if Nigel is going to come good and now that Ben Kantarovski may have a tear, he’s not looking good either, so it’s been one of those years.”