Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon has stepped down from his role at the club effective immidiately.
The Australian reports Okon, who was contracted the Central Coast into next season, decided he wouldn’t be staying with the club after refusing to accept a number of conditions to retain his job for the final season of that contract.
There are also rumours that the coach walked out of a meeting with club management on Tuesday afternoon.
Okon, who received 28 Socceroos caps during his nearly two-decade-long playing career, began coaching in 2008 and has been at Mariners for the better part of two seasons, starting in 2016.
Before that, he had spent time in the national set-up, coaching the Australian under-18s and under-20s team, before spending four years as an assistant with the Australian under-23s.
Okon has struggled to get the best out of his team during the 2017-18 campaign. After a strong start which saw them surge into the top four early on, Central Coast have fallen all the way back to ninth on the ladder, only ahead of the lowly Wellington Phoenix.
While they put in a strong performance against the league-leading Sydney FC not so long ago, the club have just four wins and eight draws to show for their 23 matches so far in 2017-18.
The 2016-17 season was a write off in many ways for Okon, given he only had a few weeks to prepare after being given the job. This season has been a major disappointment though, with the coach set to finish with just ten wins and 13 draws from 50 matches in charge.
UPDATE: The Mariners have released a statement confirming Okon’s departure from the club, with assistant coach Ivan Jolic also leaving immediately.
The Central Coast Mariners wish to advise that Paul Okon has today informed the club that he will not continue as Head Coach, effective immediately.
Both Paul Okon and the Central Coast Mariners have been in discussions for several weeks about the strategic direction of the football club. Given the club’s future strategies and plans, both parties have agreed that it is best to end the association immediately to give the club an opportunity during this vital period to re-sign players and target new players.
Paul Okon said: “I will forever be grateful to the Mariners for the opportunity they gave me. I thank the players for their commitment and the fans for their support. Finally, I wish the club all the best in the future.”
Assistant Coach Ivan Jolic has also completed his tenure with the Central Coast Mariners, effective immediately.
For the remainder of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season the club’s Foxtel National Youth League Head Coach, Wayne O’Sullivan has been appointed as caretaker coach.
The Central Coast Mariners would like to thank Okon & Jolic for their efforts and wish them all the best with their future endeavours.
Kangajets
Guest
No he wasn’t pinched . I’m just saying the mariners most likely could not afford the wages offered by Newcastle. I don’t believe Okon wanted to lose o Donovan.
Kangajets
Guest
Ok
Waz
Roar Rookie
“the lack of talent at the club is showing“ ... agreed, especially the lack of talent in the coaching department.
RbbAnonymous
Guest
How was O'Donovan pinched, sure he used to play for the Mariners but Newcastle would have signed him as a free agent.
Midfielder
Guest
Had a dream... he wants a first team gig... just maybe... [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRhGCuE0MQ4[/youtube]
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
What a nosedive by the Mariners this season. Started the season very brightly in the top 4, including a win against Sydney FC, the first team to beat SFC since they claimed the treble. There is something structurally wrong with the Mariners and they are having problems finding a good manager and supporting him. Their policy of going with the juniors and then selling them for a handy profit won't get you a 25 year club dynasty. I don't think Okon really suited their style and mission statement. Shoestring budget, showcase promising kids so you can sell them and heaps of community engagements to grow the fans like Lawrie McKinna did. I believe the Mariners owner just got back from a European trip where he was trying to sell the club and had a few interested parties.Lets see what develops from here. They are
Waz
Roar Rookie
I think Miller would be a good choice
Melange
Guest
Can’t agree.1season with a mediocre roster that wasn’t his. Second season with a much better roster of his making playing some very positive football but just lacking a striker imo. Team dropped off when depth was tested. I really believe though, that with a few more wins at the beginning of the year that the confidence would have helped and we’D be reading a different headline tonight.
Paul
Guest
More likely the opposite. Gatt on FNR this afternoon indicated that CCM management also asked Okon to improve his man-management style and probably took that as an insult. . I had heard that Okon can be morose and silent for days. Perhaps the fact that he wouldn’t release players in the January transfer window was an indication of the problems that were surfacing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott Miller is the next CCM Manager.
No1 in particular
Guest
"A few weeks", so is the club moving quickly?
Midfielder
Guest
Waz Hope you are right Ray Gatt indicated yesterday major changes and positive changes where in the pipe line...
Midfielder
Guest
Nem As my source is both a client and a friend and what they have is HHHMmmm RRRRR aAAAAA difficult to understand not in what is said but in that can't be right ... maybe in a few weeks when things have settled down a bit....
Kangajets
Guest
Celtic Coast Mariners
Matt
Guest
Does it have to do with a Scottish club?
Lee
Guest
The poor man never had a chance. The truth is this ‘club’ is virtually unmanageable now. It has little support, a small budget and has great difficulty attracting major sponsors. It also has an unfinished stadium with only 3 sides! Oh the shame. The central cost is an area quite unlike much of the rest of this sunburnt land in that there is much poverty and deprivation. This is thus the perfect opportunity to remove this team from the comp and just have 8 Australian teams. The sensible course of action for the FFA would be reduction not expansion. There is no appetite for expansion of the a league in this sunburnt land.
Lionheart
Guest
hey Middie, here's a rumour - Aloisi for CCM. I don't know which one, may be Ross. But yeah, I'm making this up.
No1 in particular
Guest
I hope it doesnt effect the players...we dont need another wooden spoon
No1 in particular
Guest
Tell me more?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Mid, The same source told me about the Adelaide sale before it was even rumoured in the media, and said a few things about CCM which were all positive for you guys so hope that’s the case ?
Kangajets
Guest
Maybe okon has the cult of personality to be the Socceroos coach.