Central Coast Mariners: Mike Mulvey on recruitment and culture behind his A-League revolution

Source: Getty Images
Jake Rosengarten from Fox Sports@jakeros95

THERE’S a buzz building around the Central Coast Mariners.

Just five months after a catastrophic 8-2 defeat consigned them to the wooden spoon, a new manager and a range of new faces have a reinvigorated group ready to turn things around.

A-League winning coach Mike Mulvey is the man entrusted with restoring the club that unearthed Socceroos stars like Mile Jedinak, Tom Rogic and Mat Ryan in the hope of breaking a finals drought that stretches four long seasons.

Mike Mulvey coach of the Mariners talks with his team during a training sessionSource: Getty Images

Since arriving, the 55-year-old has sought to transform an unsuccessful culture, create a winning mentality and reform a playing group that managed just four victories last campaign.

“When I first came here I watched the game against Newcastle, where the team lost 8-2, so that helped make up a lot of minds about what needed to be done,” Mulvey told foxsports.com.au.

“There was nobody after that performance that anybody could say anything about ‘my position is safe,’ everybody had to be under the spotlight.

“The players have been addressed with regards to what is achievable and also what are the standards we’re going to uphold, what kind of culture we are going to have around the club. So we’ve addressed that and I’m very pleased with the response we’ve got from the players, they’ve bought into what we’re trying to do.”

Mulvey has been remarkably busy in the transfer window, bringing in a huge range of new players with a clear theme to his recruitment. Major pieces of business include the acquisitions of Burnley loanee Aiden O’Neill, former Premier League player Kalifa Cisse, a number of NPL stars as well as former Mariners duo Michael McGlinchey and Matt Simon.

Not to mention the trial of sprint legend Usain Bolt.

While the additions of former Melbourne City star Ross McCormack and forgotten Socceroo Tommy Oar mark a massive statement for the club.

“We’ve brought some players in who can be influential in that process, the likes of Mike McGlinchey, Matty Simon who have played at the club before,” Mulvey said.

“So they bring in valuable know-how with regards to the region, the community and also how to actually win. We talk about this a lot. How to win, who actually knows how to win? I reckon any player I ever sign I always ask them ‘do you want to win some things?’ Some people obviously will say yes, but you see the people who really want to win things and if you can get a number of those in the squad, people who will do anything, sacrifice everything to be achievers.”

Mulvey’s arrival on the Coast represents a new era after a revolving door which saw four coaches since 2015-16 and the new man in charge believes the time is right for the Mariners to return to past glories.

“I think that football happens in cycles,” he said.

“You look at the Mariners in the first 11 years they achieved above their station basically, involved in a number of grand finals, won the grand final and they were always challenging. So in the last four years it’s no secret that there’s been a bit of a downturn in their recent efforts.

“I look at it as an opportunity to bring the club back to where the fans believe it should be, but it’s a great challenge to take a team who has fallen so far to see if we can build it back to where it was a moon ago. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Despite coming off a last-paced finish in a frustrating campaign, Mulvey isn’t content with just any improvement, and maintains his side are out to be competitive in every game.

“So what will be successful for this season?” Mulvey pondered.

“Basically we finished 10th last season so someone said ‘9th will do,’ well it doesn’t, it’s not good enough, we want to be competitive in every game and we want to be talking about success rather than failure.”

Mike Mulvey coach of the MarinersSource: Getty Images

“You know what the end game is, every game wants to win, be involved at the major games at the end of the season. We’re no different, I’m no different. I’ve done it before and I want to do it again.

“I coach, the players play and I need to make sure they’re in the right frame of mind; we’ve got the right preparation and mix of players to enable us to be successful. The only thing I can guarantee is that we’ll give 100%.”

The new-look Mariners kick off their new season on October 21 with a trip to the Brisbane Roar.