The Newcastle Jets have today parted ways with head coach Ernie Merrick, effective immediately.
Having joined the club in 2017, Merrick reached the grand final with the Jets in his first season but has failed to replicate that success in recent seasons.
W-League coach Craig Deans and current assistant Qiang Li will serve as interim coaches.
Newcastle Jets CEO, Lawrie McKinna, lauded Merrick’s early success with the club, but conceded it was time for change.
“During Ernie’s tenure, the Club reached its first Grand Final in more than ten years and we’re grateful for his contribution during his two and a half years in Newcastle,” McKinna said.
“However, results and performances haven’t been good enough this season and a change was needed.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club, I wish Ernie all the best in his future endeavours,” he said.
After resigning as Wellington Phoenix coach in December 2016, Merrick joined Newcastle in May of 2017 to replace the sacked Mark Jones. In one of the more stunning turnarounds in A-League history, the Jets rebounded from a horror five-win, last-place campaign to finish second on the ladder with 15 wins.
While Newcastle were able to come from behind to defeat Melbourne City 2-1 in the semi-finals, they suffered a controversial 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory in the final after a clearly offside goal was allowed to stand due to the VAR system failing.
Despite hopes they’d go one better, the 2018-19 season was one to forget. Just three wins from their first 14 matches put them too far out of the finals race and, while they finished strongly with seven wins and two draws afterwards, they finished seventh.
This season has gone from bad to worse, with the club currently anchored to the bottom of the ladder. The last five weeks have been particularly horrid, with the Jets picking up four losses and a draw and the last three of those losses all being by four goals.
Griffo
Roar Guru
If it happens it happens. There is the luxury of time now to get sorted but if not then so be it. Perhaps the kick in the pants needed...
Griffo
Roar Guru
As always choosing a new coach is a key decision point that needs to be done right but may not be if the candidate pool is narrow or choice rushed into. It’s a ‘no’ to Sven from me...although it seems we’ll find out in a few weeks.
Griffo
Roar Guru
It was reported that Joey wasn’t coming back and some of that salary savings was going to be used this January to acquire an U23 player not getting game time.
chris
Guest
If someone said to me you would have Hoffman as your number 9, I know as a coach, I'm not going to be scoring many goals. Why he persisted in playing him there is beyond me. He's not a 9!
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
any word on if joey champness will be coming back soon? surely his rap career hasnt taken off, he looked like had some real potential about him ( as a footballer not a rapper)
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Sven Goran-Eriksson as the next coach!!! lol
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Cousins
Franko
Guest
Would love to see Okon get another crack at it.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
Some interesting points there. The left back situation has been baffling and frustrating for fans and I’m sure for Burns and maybe even Koutrombis too. I have a theory and stress it’s only guesswork on my part that this left back conundrum maybe the straw that broke the camels back. After all Burns was a McKinna/Griffiths acquisition.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
The last time we sacked players was a disaster. That was surely our lowest point then. Injuries, possibly budget constraints ( but I think they’ve always been there) has led to the current situation. Ernie Merrick is the best coach we’ve ever had. Sad to see him depart but interested to see who replaces him. Can we bounce back against those big time Charlie’s from Sydney FC. Come on Newy!!
Melange
Guest
I've heard the current short list is J Aloisi, Okon and Kewell. Not sure how reliable my source is yet, just getting to know him, time will tell.
Franko
Guest
Damian Zane is related to Clayton i assume?
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Playing Hoffman up front is baffling , can’t finish , can’t hold the ball up , misses headers from point blank . The worst player in the team , should never be the striker . This is why van egmond made him a right back , right wing, but it just annoys the sh.t out of me that a Hoffman ( and other similar players) can play 12 years as a pro in the a league.. they suck the life out of the club, they suck the hope out of the fans , and we need hope , not more of the same bad players we always have.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
After the game the Jets Facebook page was in meltdown as you can imagine. There has been real frustration towards Merrick for a long time, split equally with those saying his hands are tied. Merrick himself said recently there was no money for players, and none would be coming in. None. Interestingly, Lawrie Mckinna answered a question thrown at him on FB by responding that there was money for players and that affordable players had been offered to the Jets. This implies Merrick had perhaps thrown in the towel and was simply planning to clone Hoffman and Katroumbis and play them out of position in every position, rather than try to improve things. All the evidence points to Merrick giving up and trying to make a point with his selections.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Jets need relegation
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Merrick's loyalty to underperforming players was truly baffling Griffo. Hoffman , Jackson, Johnny K, Kanta, Moss. Money may be very tight but when you see some of the great young players breaking into the A-league who would all do a better job than those I've mentioned above, there's no excuse for sticking with the tried and failed. The likes of Najarine, Sullivan, Devlin, et al would all be on low wages and affordable. Seeing a Newcastle junior, Metcalfe doing brilliantly at City, a box to box midfielder while we play Kanta and Ugarkavic, is incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately Merrick preferred experienced and physical players over youth. Is Kanta hungry and ambitious like Metcalfe? He gave up Bayern for the Jets... It can be turned around, and on a low budget. Coaches are out there as Nix are showing with Talay. Players are out there. It just takes a different set of eyes to see them
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Zadkovich is interesting, maybe down the track , he is only in his second year of npl coaching . Damien Zane at Edgeworth is the best local npl coach , maybe the best in Australia having taken Edgeworth to multiple titles as well as winning some knockout games in the npl National finals and some good ffa cup runs . Craig deans has been at the jets for a while and might get his chance now .
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
please not Mori, hes coaching my local club lol. In all honesty im surprised he hasnt had a gig in the a league yet, what he achieved with adelaide city was amazing.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
this is completely not to do with the topic, but ill give you my retort since your comment was towards me my obsession with sacking babbel? theirs no obsession by me in sacking him. Besides the usual; dull boring football, poor recruitment, constant rants at refs and media. Hate to think what hes actually being paid to coach the team. The league cant afford WSW to not be successful, they are literally in the hotbed of football in this country.
Franko
Guest
Shortlist candidates? - Arthur Pappas - Ruben Zadkovich - Damian Zane - Damian Mori Any others ?