Newcastle Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna says the club is looking for a fresh start following the axings of head coach Scott Miller and assistant Luciano Trani.
In a shock move, Miller’s contract with the club was terminated on Wednesday due to ‘differences related to football matters within the club’.
It is understood Miller’s relationship with Trani had become untenable on the club’s recent tour of China before owner Martin Lee decided to remove the former Fulham assistant as coach.
Jets to replace Miller with local coach: McKinna
Jets players were reportedly furious with the decision and on Thursday the club announced that Trani had also been released in a major overhaul of Newcastle’s coaching set-up.
“Scott got let go, and then obviously the repercussions of that is that Luciano, it’s just favouring a new coach coming in he brings his own system,” McKinna told the Newcastle Herald.
“The club deemed it fit to do what it did, and then going through everything today now, because obviously yesterday’s a big day, it’s not often you release a coach four weeks out from the season when you haven’t even played a main game, so that was a big enough decision.
“So it’s what’s best for the Newcastle Jets; it’s not what’s best for Lawrie McKinna or Joel Griffiths; it’s what’s best for the club moving forward.
“Sitting back and reflecting on it, it was thought we have to let Luce go as well.”
Miller, who was recommended to the club by Caltex Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou, guided the Jets to eighth spot last season.
After a strong start, they ended the campaign with eight wins, six draws and 13 losses, making it six straight seasons without finals football for the club.
Sydney United 58’s Mark Rudan, Westfield FFA Cup specialist Arthur Papas, Damian Mori (Adelaide City) and ex-Wellington and New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert have all been linked with the post.
