Experienced Central Coast Mariners defender Josh Rose says recruitment will be crucial to the club rising back up the ladder next season.
Central Coast shipped no fewer than four goals for the seventh time in Friday night’s 4-1 defeat away to Western Sydney, ensuring they remain bereft of form for next weekend’s season-ending F3 Derby.
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With only one round remaining, the league’s bottom-placed side still sit 12 points adrift of the next-nearest Wellington Phoenix.
“It hurts a lot,” Rose told Fox Sports after the defeat at Pirtek Stadium.
“It’s good to see the club has gotten itself sorted off the field but it’s now up to us in the off-season to recruit well and come back as a team on the field and reward the fans next season.”
The former champions will hope to end their season on a high when local rivals Newcastle visit Central Coast Stadium next Saturday.
Despite notching just three wins all season, Rose believes there is still cause for optimism in looking to the future.
“There is belief in the squad. We have remained positive through all of this,” the 34-year-old said.
“If we can remain positive through this then there is definitely hope.”
