Central Coast Mariners are pleased to confirm that foundation player Wayne O’Sullivan has re-joined the Club as Assistant Coach to freshly promoted Mariners boss, Phil Moss.
Central Coast Mariners are pleased to confirm that foundation player Wayne O-Sullivan has re-joined the Club as Assistant Coach to freshly promoted Mariners boss, Phil Moss.
One of the fan-s favourite players in the early years of the Hyundai A-League, O-Sullivan played 47 competitive matches for the Mariners between 2005 and 2007, and has signed on with the Club until, at minimum, the completion of the 2014/15 campaign.
Once a proud and passionate player for the Club, O-Sullivan brings a wealth of knowledge to the Mariners having enjoyed a long and successful professional playing career in England, Wales, Singapore and Australia. He has also held senior coaching positions at Wellington Phoenix (Assistant Coach) and Newcastle Jets (Head Coach – Westfield W-League).
O-Sullivan, or ‘Sully- as he is widely known, will commence official duties with the Club next week and will take his place on the bench next to Moss for the first time when the Mariners host Melbourne Victory at Gosford-s Bluetongue Stadium on Friday 29 November.
Today O-Sullivan said he is happy to be back at the Club where his Hyundai A-League journey commenced.
“It-s obviously a really exciting time for me,” he said. “It-s been six-and-a-half years since I-ve been here, so I am very excited to be back.”
“My first impression is that the culture here has gone way beyond what we were first part of. It-s gone to a professional level that is way beyond where we were, and this facility [the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence] is incredible. It-s been nice to come back and see some of the players I played with in the early years, too.”
O-Sullivan added that despite feeling fulfilled by his most recent work with Northern NSW Football and the Newcastle Jets- Academy pathway, he has always had a desire to be involved at the top level of the game in Australia again.
“After my time with Wellington I had the opportunity to work in youth development, and I didn-t see myself going that way originally,” he explained. “I always felt myself being involved in this level of football. While my time in youth development was very rewarding, this is really where I-d like to be. The whole day to day activity and the weekend game situation really drives me.”
Central Coast Mariners Head Coach, Phil Moss, said the addition of O-Sullivan, who lives locally and has a genuine passion for the region, is a coup for the defending Hyundai A-League Champions.
“We are delighted to secure a coach of Sully-s quality,” Moss said. “He brings a fresh face to the staff and to the dressing room, and as a former Mariners player he has the Club culture running through his veins.”
“With previous experience as an A-League Assistant Coach under Ricki Herbert at Wellington Phoenix, I think he will bring a lot to what we are doing at the Club.”
“I-m really looking forward to working closely with him, as I know the rest of the staff and players are,” he said.
Central Coast Mariners Group General Manager, Mr Peter Turnbull, said O-Sullivan was the Club-s preferred candidate to assist Moss when it became clear that Graham Arnold was to make the switch to Japan-s Vegalta Sendai.
“We wanted good support for Mossy, but also minimal disruption to the Club,” Turnbull said. “To appoint an outstanding ex-Mariner was decided early on. Wayne is tremendously popular with the players and the fans, and has the right experience and qualifications, so he was the natural choice.”
“We wish Wayne well, know he can do the job, and have full confidence that he will make an excellent contribution to the Club once again,” he said.
Central Coast Mariners Foxtel National Youth League Coach, Patrick Zwaanswijk, will assist Moss, Andrew Clark and John Crawley this Saturday as the Mariners take on Perth Glory in Western Australia.
