One of the key moments of the Central Coast Mariners Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season was the appointment of Tony Walmsley as head coach for 2015/16. We take a quick look back at his time as interim head coach, as well as his plans for next season.
Walmsley came on board with a simple brief – to ensure the Mariners play an exciting, swashbuckling style of football that entertains fans at Central Coast Stadium, while giving opposition sides’ headaches throughout the Hyundai A-League.
Upon his full time appointment in April, Walmsley promised that the reinvented Mariners would be the hottest ticket in town when Hyundai A-League Season 2015/16 rolls around.
“There’s a very clear charter here to play an attacking, risky style, to be a little bit different. The fraternity are often not necessarily aligned to that kind of thinking, and happily I am” Walmsley said.
“That’s the exciting thing for me, to take a group from where we are at the moment, to make it almost unrecognisable next season, that’s the thing I’m most excited about.”
Originally appointed in an interim role in the back end of Hyundai A-League Season 2014/15, Walmsley began the process of laying the groundwork for next season in his eight games in charge.
The results were encouraging. Walmsley’s Mariners went unbeaten at Central Coast Stadium, securing 1-0 wins over Melbourne City and the Western Sydney Wanderers respectively, as well as fighting to a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory thanks to Nick Montgomery’s extra time “howitzer.”
Away from home, we couldn’t pick up a win – but there were good signs in the positive attacking approach the side adopted, with the talents of players such as Fabio Ferreira and Anthony Caceres well utilised in the front third.
With the squad now under his command for a full pre-season, it will be interesting to see how Walmsley goes about installing his approach, as well as in the recruitment market, with Mitch Austin and Roy O’Donovan recently joining the side.
Walmsley recently outlined his vision for recruitment in an open letter to members and fans here, before he departed to link up with English Premier League club Everton FC.
Tony Walmsley is IN – Are You IN? Memberships for the Central Coast Mariners 2015/16 Hyundai A-League campaign are on sale to the general public on Friday July 3. Click here to register your interest!
Existing Members currently have an exclusive period to renew their membership now until Friday June 26. For more information call Mariners HQ on 1300 767 442.
