After a week of upheaval few saw coming, Carl Robinson has been appointed Western Sydney Wanderers manager on an three-year deal, leaving Newcastle without a coach and JP de Marigny without a job.
de Marigny himself was only installed as permanent Wanderer’s boss three months ago, but as Ray Gatt explained to Box2Box, that was long enough for relations to strain.
“I believe the club wasn’t happy with the way the season ended and it’s a combination of things. JP wasn’t happy that he wanted to sign a few players that didn’t happen.”
“The club brought in Patrick Zwaanswijk as one of his assistants without consulting JP, so there were a whole lot of issues. The main one was the club wasn’t happy with the direction they were going.”
And so the job falls to the Robinson, an ambitious Welshman who revived the ailing Jets in just eleven games last season, to the point they were unlucky to miss the finals having been bottom at Christmas.
“I understand talks with Robinson have been on for a little while, so they wouldn’t have sacked JP without knowing they had their man.”
Robinson leaves behind a club with far greater issues than just filling his office and parking space.
Having been unable to find an owner during a search that is extending beyond 12 months, the Jets’ finances appear grim, although CEO Lawrie McKinna remains publicly bullish a saviour will arrive.
Without the FFA to fall back on given their own financial struggles, and the fact the A-League clubs are in the closing stages of securing independence, previous safeguards may prove ineffective.
“I understand the control of the A-League has now gone to the clubs, although no official announcement has been made. Is it up to A-League clubs to try and sort out the Jets if they cant find an owner?”
“Who will bail the Jets out if the FFA can’t? The A-League needs the Jets, it’s a fantastic traditional area for football.”