Skipper Nigel Boogaard says the Newcastle Jets must put the current dramas at the club behind them with the start of the Hyundai A-League fast approaching.
It’s been a difficult week for the Jets players after coach Scott Miller was sacked, while assistant Luciano Trani also departed the club after the pair reportedly fell out during the club’s pre-season tour in China.
“It was upsetting,” Boogaard told the Newcastle Herald.
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“A lot of the boys were obviously very close to Scott, but it was out of our control and out of our hands, and we’re here to play football.”
And that’s exactly what the squad did on Sunday in a 4-0 pre-season friendly win over NNSW PS4 NPL champions Edgeworth at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Andrew Hoole netted a double for the Jets, while Devante Clut and Andrew Nabbout added further goals in a strong display which continued the club’s impressive run of results in pre-season.
Report: Jets defeat Edgeworth 4-0
“Obviously the boys had a bit of a point to prove today,” Boogaard said.
“We had some good results over in China, and to get back, a bit of a rocky week, and we move on. I think it was a good performance.
“The biggest way we could move forward was by getting back on the park and doing what we can control, and that was putting a good performance in against a very strong opposition as well.”
Former coach Clayton Zane took the reins for Sunday’s clash, but Jets officials are hoping to have a new boss within a fortnight.
The Jets have further pre-season matches set down against both Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory later this month, before they open their Hyundai A-League campaign against Adelaide on Sunday, October 10.
“We were starting to work well as a unit, and some quality players had come in as well to add to that, but it is what it is and we have to move on,” Zane said.
“It was a good attitude shown by the boys, not only today but at the last two days of training to really knuckle down and make sure we represent this club with some pride and make sure that they know we’re here to do the business and, come the start of the A-League season, regardless of who’s the coach, we’ll be ready.”
