NEWS: Walmsley lifts lid on recruitment

This week I have travelled to the UK to link up with Everton to further establish our relationship as well as catching up with a range of coaches, football directors and agencies across Europe.

Before heading abroad, I thought it would be a great opportunity to give our fans and members an insight to the type of players we are looking to bring in and what we expect of those who are already IN for the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Season. Are you in? 

The off-season challenge for the Central Coast Mariners is to recruit within budget constraints, within the salary cap and achieve a new mantra of entertainment. The key is to recruit potential and reward performance.

As a group we have established some key values around more training/better training and better people/better players. This puts all recruits under scrutiny with multiple character assessments, performance analysis, medical history and physical capability key factors.

What does the new recruitment charter look like?

Our squad audit consists of understanding how our players add value, both on the pitch right now, but also in terms of future potential and increased market value.

The balance of the squad and available funds means absolute care will be taken to ensure a good balance of youth and experience, but to also assess how talent and hunger can outweigh experience, regardless of age.

When ‘goals for’ and ‘goals against’ columns from last season are taken into account, the needs for the Mariners becomes obvious, but we need to think differently and build a squad that meets the demands of the new identity of the club, one that will entertain.

The base is there for success and under a new tactical approach with increased physical demands and a focus on higher capacity for repeated sprints will see the players adapt quickly.

We have a strong midfield with a number of players who can change direction and change pace. The primary focus is to attract variety in the front third, which we have started with the recruitment of both Roy O’Donovan and Mitch Austin this week.  

Balance and pace on the left will provide service in tandem with Fabio Ferreira and hard working strikers who can compliment each other; one with aerial ability and one who can play off shoulders and benefit from high quality service.

We are looking at adding a central defender to bolster that area and possibly a young goalkeeper, which will take us to our limit.

We are excited by the progress being made so far and look forward to implementing an exciting program for the fans when season 11 kicks off on October 10th. To register your interest for a Hyundai A-League 2015/16 membership click here.

Renewals for existing members can be made by clicking here. 

Current player contract durations (alphabetical order):