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Central Coast Mariners have been boosted on the eve of their A-League match against Sydney FC with skipper Alex Wilkinson agreeing a new two-year deal.
Centre-half Wilkinson has become the 12th Mariner to pledge his future to the club beyond this season, the 24-year-old now signed until the end of 2010-11.
It keeps Wilkinson out of the clutches of the two new clubs entering the competition next year, Gold Coast and North Queensland, who are already starting to recruit.
Several clubs were believed to have spoken to Wilkinson, one of the most experienced players in the A-League with more than 60 matches.
But Wilkinson said the strong team spirit and the lure of Asian Champions League football next year swayed him to stay at Gosford.
“The atmosphere and culture here at the Mariners is something very special and one that appeals to any player in the country,” he said.
“It was always my absolute preference to remain on the Central Coast and further contribute to what has been an already unforgettable journey.
“On and off the field, the Mariners are going places and it’s very exciting and reassuring to know that I’ll be a part of this for the long-term.”
The former Young Socceroo now joins Socceroos midfielder Mile Jedinak, rising stars Danny Vukovic and Matt Simon, and stalwarts Dean Heffernan and John Hutchinson among those to have agreed terms beyond this season.
Wilkinson will lead the Mariners in their top four-shaping clash at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow night, with Central Coast likely to stick with the three-pronged attack which served them so well in a 1-0 win over Newcastle last weekend.
Sydney FC are set to start marquee player John Aloisi off the bench against his old club.
The same tactic bore fruit when Aloisi opened his goalscoring account off the pine against Melbourne Victory last weekend.
Sydney FC confirmed Aloisi would play despite a head knock he sustained in training earlier this week which required several stitches.
The 32-year-old trained today heavily bandaged.
Sydney FC sit second after their win over Melbourne last weekend, with the Mariners fourth.
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