CD: The difference this time is that I have come in on a level playing field with everyone else. When I replaced Branko Culina, it happened three days before the start of the season. I had been an assistant but hadn't really had much say in what was happening. We weren't fit at that point and that was the biggest challenge. We were in all the games and were trying to hang on in the final 20 minutes.

FACTBOX (LISTBOX)

When Ernie Merrick was let go, we were running last. The challenge was to change the mentality and mindset of the players. You have to convince them they are not as bad as the table suggests and get them thinking in a positive way. But also take responsibility for the situation. Those two were difficult for different reasons.

This one obviously has its challenges as well. But this time I have had an opportunity, especially the past few weeks, to go the way I think we should go.

JG: Initially it was a case of getting the squad fit in readiness for a new coach. At what point were you able to put your own stamp on things?

CD: The first few weeks were purely fitness.There was a couple of weeks where I wasn't sure whether to go with what I thought was right or wait for a coach to come in. I think the last two weeks, I have definitely made a call on a few things. Most coaches think along the same lines, it's just the last 20 per cent which is non negotiable for an individual. I don't think we can keep waiting for a coach so we will go down the path I have taken in consultation with the other coaches working with the team.

JG: With no new owners in sight, the position is yours possibly until the end of the season. Are you treating it as an audition for the job full-time?

CD: I have spoken to [Jets CEO] Lawrie McKinna about it. I obviously want to coach in the A-League. At the moment, everything is so up in the air. I'd like to be the coach but I don't want to be going out and saying that and distracting people from the most important thing, which is winning games. My situation will work out in time. I have enjoyed the last 10 months with the A-League team and would like to continue on. For me, that is not a distraction worth bringing up. There is enough going on as it is. I just want to do the best for the players. I enjoy working with the players. I think they have been respectful of me and the situation and I'm looking forward to the season.

JG: The team made big progress under Carl Robinson in the final 10 games last season. Is it a case of following that script and adding your own twist?

CD: There was nothing wrong with the way we were playing. It wasn't like we needed to come up with another solution. We want to continue on with what we were doing towards the end of last season, but every coach and every team in the world wants to get better. There are definitely things we need to improve on as a team. Improving the players individually is a coach's job as well. In the past couple of weeks, I have spoken to individuals and groups within the team about certain things we need to get better at. I think we can be a bit more aggressive with the ball and take a few more risks. We were making a lot of passes, but sometimes we played a bit safe. I'd like to see us ask a few more questions of the opposition.

There are lots of little things that we need to improve. But 90 per cent of it is the same for whoever came in as coach. It is just that 10 per cent of your own ideas that you need to get the team believing in.

JG: In the pre-season, it seemed to be one drama after the other. How have you handled that?

CD: You don't have to have been a player to be a coach. But one positive about being a former player is you know that, as a player, you can get caught up in your own little bubble. That is not a bad thing. There are certain things which are important to inform the players about. Sometimes it is best to leave them be and let the burden be taken by the coach and management off the field. If an issue comes up, we try and deal with it and leave the players to play and train. I think we have been pretty good at that. I have had one meeting with the group on their own to give everyone a chance to speak about anything that was bothering them. The meeting didn't last very long. I don't think there are huge issues with the playing group. It's stuff which is out of the control of the players. As a coaching staff we spoke about making it the best training environment every day. What happens outside of that doesn't matter.

JG: Steve Ugarkovic is one player who has been critical of a lack of information being passed on to the players. Have you sat down with him and explained the situation?

CD: I have a good relationship with Stevie and I think there is mutual respect there. We talk a lot, not just about football. We had a chat after the Edgeworth game and made sure he was in a good place. You have to take care of the players, not just football-wise but off the field. He was disappointed with everything that had gone on in the off-season, like everybody was. He assured me that his focus was on training and games and he has shown that. No-one who watches training or games would say he is not committed. Last week, we had another chat to make sure he understands that his business is to be a good footballer. It doesn't matter what the situation is away from the field, he has to do the right thing by himself, which he has done. I have challenged him to get better. We all want him in the national team. I think he is pretty close. He has all the tools, it is just using them at the right time. My aim with Stevie is to get him into the national team. The best scenario for him is to focus on something like that. There is no doubt he will give 100 per cent.

JG: If you look at the departures - headed by Dimi Petratos - the squad has lost a lot of experience and quality. Apart from Jack Duncan, the new arrivals are largely at the start of their careers. What excites you most about them?

CD: As a coach, working with young players gives you a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the game. Younger players change the attitude and energy of training and the change room. The down side is that we have lost the quality and experience of Joe Ledley and Wes Hoolahan and Dimi. If you look at someone like Valentino Yuel and his enthusiasm and desire, it's good to work with people like that. It's more coaching, but that is my job. You can't have a team full of 32 year olds. I think we have a good mix.

JG: Dimi Petratos polarised opinion, but he averaged seven goals a season and created more chances than any player in the league. Ramy Najjarine is a different type of player. Will there be less reliance on one focal figure?

CD: Ramy will surprise people in a lot of ways. No-one has seen much of him. He played bits and pieces for Melbourne City but now he has the responsibility of being one of the main creative players in the team. I think he needs that responsibility. He has huge potential. He is an important player for the Olyroos. He starts every game and that is the best under-23 players in the country. He has heaps of natural talent and has a great work ethic. Dimi has the ability to do things that make people go, wow. Ramy doesn't do that quite so much, but I think that is just the stage of his career that he is at. As he gets more confidence and understands the players more, he will become an important player for sure.

JG: Pre-season results against A-League teams have been solid without being spectacular.

CD: Against the Mariners (2-0 loss), we had only been training two weeks, didn't have our four Olyroos and had a couple of injuries. It was more of a fitness exercise. The games against Macarthur (3-all), Melbourne City (3-all), Brisbane (nil-all) and Wellington (4-3 loss), three of those teams were finalists last season and most people expect Macarthur to be in the top four this season. Three draws is not the worst result and we scored 10 goals in those four games. That's a positive. Obviously, we don't want to concede as many goals and there are a couple of little changes we have made during the past few weeks to fix the issues we had defensively. We need to tighten up for sure. We leave ourselves a little bit open as a back three sometimes because we are so intent on going forward and having the ball. That leaves you open to a counter attack.

JG: You open with a derby against Mariners and then host Wanderers in what shapes as a grudge match. Could you have scripted a more mouthwatering start?

CD: The Mariners game, you don't need to explain why the rivalry started. I'm the only survivor from that era, but there are a few boys around from the grand final year. We want to make sure they stay where they are - at the bottom. That is the spice in that one and obviously the supporters enjoy the rivalry with someone nearby. It's an enjoyable game but it's not enjoyable if you don't win it.

Western Sydney were just another team three months ago. The way things have panned out is disappointing. Everyone enjoyed having Carl Robinson here as coach, but he made a choice. He's entitled to go where he wants and is happy. Obviously some of the players are disappointed because they enjoyed working with him. Bernie Ibini for example came here to play under him. That changed and caused a lot of issues. The supporters are the ones who will vent the most frustration. That's football. Carl has been in the English Premier League and other big leagues and I'm sure it is not the first time he has been disliked.

JG: Again the Jets have been written off as contenders, what's you message to the naysayers?

CD: We have enough experience, we have enough quality and enough young ones, with their enthusiasm, to cause teams trouble this year. Everyone is saying we will come last. One of the boys commented the other day 'we get told that every year'. It's not even frustrating any more. That is how we are perceived in the outside world. Newcastle will come last or second last with the Mariners. They are just small clubs from small cities. We don't have that mentality inside the club. We made a grand final three seasons ago under Ernie Merrick. We finished last season well and the responsibility is now with myself and the players to continue on that path. We want to make the finals as a minimum.

For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email.

IN THE NEWS: