They say in football you are only ever a phone call away from a life-changing moment.
They say in football you are only ever a phone call away from a life-changing moment.
Never was there a more evident case of that than during the past week at the Central Coast Mariners.
First Graham Arnold gets the call from Japanese club Vegalta Sendai offering him a dream move to the J-League – a well-deserved and hard-earned chance to become a trailblazer for Australian coaches to the top leagues of Asia.
Then came the call from the Mariners offering me the opportunity to become just the third head coach in the club-s proud history.
To say I-m humbled and honoured to have received the backing of ‘Arnie- along with owner Mike Charlesworth and chairman Peter Turnbull would be a massive understatement and I-m looking forward to the challenge immensely.
I-ve got massive shoes to fill, of that there is no doubt. First Lawrie McKinna and then Graham Arnold.
I-ll be forever indebted to both men for different reasons.
Lawrie helped set up this wonderful club from scratch and designed a culture that stands to this day while ‘Arnie- brought unprecedented success with two grand final appearances, the club-s first grand final victory and a premiership in just three short years! He bought a style of football to the A-League that has transformed Australian football and tactical coaching in this country forever.
Add to that nearly $4million in transfer fees for players he either developed or helped turn around the careers of and it-s a record that goes without saying leaves him in perfect stead and much deserving of his opportunity in the J-League.
He is a coach at the very top of his game and the A-League has lost a great mind, manager, character and mentor.
He arrived on the coast with clear visions to make things and people around him better. I-m charged with carrying on his legacy now and it-s a role I feel well equipped to take on having served a long apprenticeship under him.
I-m not Graham Arnold, however, and I will bring my own style to the top job.
I have a great staff around me – to which I-ve added one this week but more about that in a minute – and a fantastic group of players and men who pull on the Mariners shirt with such pride every day.
We speak often about the culture of the Mariners and how it is driven from within. Everyone touched by it is effected by it long term and any player who has donned the yellow and navy will attest to it.
I-m a big believer in culture and tradition and respecting the past while always looking forward.
It-s a big reason why I this week appointed former Mariners star Wayne O-Sullivan as my assistant coach.
Don-t get me wrong, he is a fantastic coach in his own right and has a stint as New Zealand national team coach Ricki Herbert-s assistant at Wellington Phoenix already on his CV.
But the chance to add another ex-Mariners player to the staff to join the likes of Andrew Clark, John Crawley and Patrick Zwaanswijk was too good an opportunity to pass up.
These are guys who bleed yellow and navy and know what the club means to the Central Coast community.
Their coaching skills speak loudly enough but the fact they will automatically foster, nurture and grow the culture of the club having played for the Mariners is something that can-t be understated.
With a changing of the guard taking place over our bye weekend attention now thankfully returns to the players and our clash with Perth Glory over in the west tomorrow night. We are all champing at the bit to get back out there and show what a quality football side we are.
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Finally, I-d like to take this opportunity to announce that this will be my final column given the change of roles and added responsibilities. I-m keen for my coaching and my team to do the talking for me. Thank you to all Central Coast Express Advocate readers and Mariners fans for your continued support and please remember the best support is by sitting on a seat at Bluetongue Stadium!
