Mariners set to offer Stajcic permanent deal

Sacked Matildas coach Alen Stajcic is close to stitching up a permanent deal with the Central Coast Mariners.

Central Coast Mariners coach Alen Stajcic. Picture: Richard Dobson

A year that started badly for Alen Stajcic is set to get a whole lot better with the former coach of the Matildas close to stitching up a permanent deal with the Central Coast Mariners.

The Australian understands just a few minor details need to be sorted before the club and Stajcic sign off on a contract that will see him in charge of the battling A-League club for the next three ­seasons.

Whether those details can be sorted in the next couple of weeks remains to be seen, with suggestions the Mariners are unlikely to make a formal announcement until close to the end of the season later this month.

Stajcic has been in charge on an interim basis since the club parted ways with previous coach Mike Mulvey following an 8-2 loss to Wellington Phoenix on March 9.

He took over two days later, leading the Mariners to a shock 3-2 win over the Newcastle Jets five days later.

While Central Coast have since suffered defeats to Adelaide United (1-0) and Perth Glory (3-0), Stajcic has won praise for steadying the club and having the team play a more structured game that has resulted in them providing much stiffer opposition. Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp was not prepared to comment on the Stajcic situation when contacted, but The Australian believes talks over a permanent deal have been in ­motion for a little over a week.

Stajcic, who has revelled in his first senior men’s coaching appointment, is understood to have already started the process of sorting out a squad for next season.

It has been rumoured that talented Wanderers and Olyroos attacker Abraham Majok could make the switch.

Stajcic’s world collapsed around him in late January when he was controversially sacked as Matildas coach by Football Federation Australia for reasons yet to be revealed. He has constantly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Despite Stajcic not having coached in the A-League, the Mariners were quick to get him on board after it became clear Mulvey had lost the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Perth Glory have received good news with star attacker Chris Ikonomidis cleared of a serious shoulder injury that threatened his hopes of playing in the finals next month.

Ikonomidis had to be replaced at halftime against the Mariners at Gosford on Sunday after falling heavily and dislocating his ­shoulder.

However, the result of scans taken on Monday showed there is no fracture or any other underlying issue. He is likely to be sidelined for at least two weeks, with the club unlikely to risk him ahead of the finals.

As the side with the most goals in the league this season, Glory have shown they have enough attacking fire power with the likes of Andy Keogh, Diego Castro and Joel Chianese to cope without the Socceroo for a couple of games.

The Ikonomidis health report follows similar good news for Melbourne Victory midfielder Terry Antonis, who has been cleared of a serious knee injury after he was forced off during the club’s 2-1 loss to Sydney FC at the SCG on Saturday night.

There were fears Antonis had suffered an ACL injury, but the ­report was positive. However, it remains unclear how long he will be sidelined.