pjennings
Well-Known Member
Mariners axe CEO as club plans new direction
Date
April 25, 2013 - 4:16PM
Sebastian Hassett
Football reporter
The Central Coast Mariners might be celebrating the greatest on-field week in the club's history. Off it, however, is a different story, with chief executive John McKay having been formally ousted this week.
Apart from a brief spell in late 2011, McKay has been the club's only chief executive since they were formed in 2004, making him one of the longest-serving staff members at any A-League club.
McKay has been relieved of his duties by new Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth, who is seeking to give the club fresh impetus and direction as they attempt to capitalise on the club's maiden championship.
Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull confirmed to Fairfax Media on Thursday that McKay would not continue after eight years in charge.
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"Under the new ownership arrangement, Mike and I have decided to review every department of the football club, from the football department to the commercial department to the operations department. The whole lot," Turnbull said. "As part of that, I'm overseeing a major review to re-focus the organisation."
Despite achieving outstanding results in the past three seasons – they finished in the top two each year under coach Graham Arnold – the club hasn't been able to grow its crowds or revenue as hoped, leaving the new administration to look at ways they can reconnect.
"We're going to be undertaking a range of community forums, examining a whole range of issues, such as how the Mariners can become more involved in the community, and look at what we're doing well and what we're doing poorly," he said. "Basically, we need to figure out what we can do to make things better."
Turnbull believes winning the championship at their fourth grand final attempt provides the ideal footing for the club to expand its following.
"I've been speaking with Arnie [Graham Arnold] about his plans for next season and the team we're going to be putting on the park next season will be a very, very good team," he said. "We're the only team to finish in the top two three years in a row but it would be good to make it four years in a row and make it an achievement even more difficult for others to follow."
However, speculation is mounting the Mariners will lose several key players, especially their talented young trio Mat Ryan, Bernie Ibini and Trent Sainsbury. It is Sainsbury who has come under particular focus this week, with Bolton Wanderers tabling a deal worth around $560,000 for his services.
"We've had a couple of enquiries about Trent, but I think everyone needs to remember that Marco Rojas, the player of the year, has left Melbourne Victory, and Terry Antonis has left Sydney FC," Turnbull said. "Trent is under contract for next season but there's been some solid expressions of interest from overseas clubs.'
"It's just a fact of life, and given we're the club who produce the most young players, we're the ones who get most of the enquiries."
While Ryan is a free agent and has already expressed his desire to seek a move abroad, Ibini still has another year to run, meaning a foreign club will have to pay a sizeable fee – comparable to the offer for Sainsbury – for his services.
"We've had some more expressions of interest for Bernie," Turnbull said. "But, depending on Tuesday night [against Kashiwa Reysol], when the Champions League duties have concluded, they may have a holiday somewhere in Europe."
Arnold himself has been linked with a move away from the club but the Mariners are confident he'll stay on.
"With another year on his contract, we're certainly expecting him to stay," Turnbull said. "If he was going to be offered a ridiculous salary in the UK, he can come and talk to us about it. Until then, we're working with him to plan for next season."
The Mariners' maiden championship will be commemorated at a street parade in Gosford on Friday.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/mariners-axe-ceo-as-club-plans-new-direction-20130425-2igzu.html#ixzz2RSVxLcEL
Date
April 25, 2013 - 4:16PM
Sebastian Hassett
Football reporter
The Central Coast Mariners might be celebrating the greatest on-field week in the club's history. Off it, however, is a different story, with chief executive John McKay having been formally ousted this week.
Apart from a brief spell in late 2011, McKay has been the club's only chief executive since they were formed in 2004, making him one of the longest-serving staff members at any A-League club.
McKay has been relieved of his duties by new Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth, who is seeking to give the club fresh impetus and direction as they attempt to capitalise on the club's maiden championship.
Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull confirmed to Fairfax Media on Thursday that McKay would not continue after eight years in charge.
Advertisement
"Under the new ownership arrangement, Mike and I have decided to review every department of the football club, from the football department to the commercial department to the operations department. The whole lot," Turnbull said. "As part of that, I'm overseeing a major review to re-focus the organisation."
Despite achieving outstanding results in the past three seasons – they finished in the top two each year under coach Graham Arnold – the club hasn't been able to grow its crowds or revenue as hoped, leaving the new administration to look at ways they can reconnect.
"We're going to be undertaking a range of community forums, examining a whole range of issues, such as how the Mariners can become more involved in the community, and look at what we're doing well and what we're doing poorly," he said. "Basically, we need to figure out what we can do to make things better."
Turnbull believes winning the championship at their fourth grand final attempt provides the ideal footing for the club to expand its following.
"I've been speaking with Arnie [Graham Arnold] about his plans for next season and the team we're going to be putting on the park next season will be a very, very good team," he said. "We're the only team to finish in the top two three years in a row but it would be good to make it four years in a row and make it an achievement even more difficult for others to follow."
However, speculation is mounting the Mariners will lose several key players, especially their talented young trio Mat Ryan, Bernie Ibini and Trent Sainsbury. It is Sainsbury who has come under particular focus this week, with Bolton Wanderers tabling a deal worth around $560,000 for his services.
"We've had a couple of enquiries about Trent, but I think everyone needs to remember that Marco Rojas, the player of the year, has left Melbourne Victory, and Terry Antonis has left Sydney FC," Turnbull said. "Trent is under contract for next season but there's been some solid expressions of interest from overseas clubs.'
"It's just a fact of life, and given we're the club who produce the most young players, we're the ones who get most of the enquiries."
While Ryan is a free agent and has already expressed his desire to seek a move abroad, Ibini still has another year to run, meaning a foreign club will have to pay a sizeable fee – comparable to the offer for Sainsbury – for his services.
"We've had some more expressions of interest for Bernie," Turnbull said. "But, depending on Tuesday night [against Kashiwa Reysol], when the Champions League duties have concluded, they may have a holiday somewhere in Europe."
Arnold himself has been linked with a move away from the club but the Mariners are confident he'll stay on.
"With another year on his contract, we're certainly expecting him to stay," Turnbull said. "If he was going to be offered a ridiculous salary in the UK, he can come and talk to us about it. Until then, we're working with him to plan for next season."
The Mariners' maiden championship will be commemorated at a street parade in Gosford on Friday.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/mariners-axe-ceo-as-club-plans-new-direction-20130425-2igzu.html#ixzz2RSVxLcEL
