Mariners blueprint gives troubled Jets route to success

Newcastle Jets head coach Rob Stanton wants to copy the blueprint of rivals Central Coast Mariners. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Newcastle boss Rob Stanton says the Central Coast Mariners have laid the path for his club to follow as the Jets face an uncertain off-season.

Unable to make the finals, the Jets host the Mariners on Saturday with the final game of the season set to start a winter dominated by questions over Newcastle’s long-term sustainability.

Newcastle remain propped up by rival A-League Men clubs and the Jets’ hopes of being rescued by a new benefactor have yet to be fulfilled.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) have said they won’t step in to save the club if the supporting clubs opt to pull the pin.

But Stanton hopes the Jets can look towards the Mariners’ success story as inspiration to brighter days.

Perennial strugglers not so long ago, the Mariners have been turned around by bolstering their academy and selling players to Europe for a profit, with Garang Kuol the most obvious example. 

It has also netted them silverware while operating on one of the competition’s smallest budgets. 

The Mariners are reigning champions and are in the hunt for this year’s premiership, championship and are into the final of the AFC Cup.

“It’s a good way of doing things if you want to have sustainable success,” Stanton said.  

“When you develop players and you develop people, you tend to improve and move up.

“That's basically what they've done and then along the way they've sold players. 

"So they're building finance, money is coming into the club which they can utilise to build up areas if they want to.

“It’s a good blueprint and I think a lot of clubs should do something similar, I think a lot are thinking along those lines.” 

A win will strengthen the Mariners’ bid to topple Wellington and finish the season with the premiership.

Stanton refused to buy into the prospect of spoiling the Mariners’ charge, instead urging his side to honour 35-year-old defender Jason Hoffman, who will leave the club by bringing up his 300th ALM game. 

“I hope it’s a special day for him, I’m happy for him and hope it works out to be a good day for the club,” Stanton said. 

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store