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Incoming Central Coast coach Graham Arnold has vowed to entice some “exciting” Australian and foreign players to the Mariners when he takes the helm of the A-League club next season.
Arnold, who will replace the club’s foundation coach Lawrie McKinna for the 2010/11 season, held his first training session in Gosford on Tuesday and spoke for the first time about his appointment.
The Socceroos assistant doesn’t officially begin his new role until after his commitments at the World Cup, but is already busy putting plans in place for his return to club coaching.
Among them is a recruitment drive and Arnold is keen to use his broad contacts to help give the Mariners’ squad a makeover.
“We’ve got quite a few players off contract and I am looking in the next few months with Lawrie and (executive chairman) Lyall (Gorman), to bring in some good Australian based players, potentially some Australian players based overseas to bring back home, as well as a couple of really good foreigners,” Arnold said.
“Really good visa players that can excite the Central Coast Mariners supporters, strengthen the league and make us a better team.
“I’ve got a very good network of people and they’ve already been notified of what I’m looking for.
“We’re open-minded with everything for every player.
“In the front half of the field we need excitement, we need creativity to excite the crowd.”
Arnold said he wanted to bring success back to the Mariners, who have appeared in two A-League grand finals but failed to make this season’s playoffs.
“My vision is to try to get the Central Coast Mariners back up the top,” Arnold said.
“With the ($40 million) Centre of Excellence (being built), it’s so exciting to have that type of thing up on the Central Coast, and this should be the club that everyone wants to be at over the next five years.”
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