FORMER Wales midfielder and successful US Major League Soccer coach Carl Robinson has emerged as the front runner to take the reins at the Newcastle Jets.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Robinson met with Jets management at their Ray Watt Oval headquarters on Friday morning and later inspected the facilities at Newcastle University and McDonald Jones Stadium.
He is expected to travel to Melbourne on Saturday and sit in the stands for the Jets' clash with City at AAMI Park.
Jets W-League coach Craig Deans has been the interim A-League boss since Ernie Merrick had his contract terminated after the 4-0 loss to Melbourne Victory two weeks ago.
Robinson is understood to be on a shortlist of six candidates for the job.
The 43-year-old, who has 52 caps for Wales and played in the English Premier League at Portsmouth and Sunderland before a stint in the US, joined the Vancouver Whitecaps as an assistant coach in 2013 and was promoted to the top job a year later.
He spent five years at the helm and guided Vancouver to three play-off appearances, including two Western Conference semi-finals.
Let go by the Whitecaps in October 2018 after they missed the play-offs, Robinson was linked to the Wales coaching position last year before Ryan Griggs' appointment and reportedly had interest from Costa Rica.
The Whitecaps operate on one of the smaller budgets in the MLS and Robinson played a key role in the development of Alphonso Davies, who was sold to Bayern Munich last year for an MLS record $31 million.
The match against the second-placed City will be Deans' second at the helm. The former defender, who oversaw three sessions before the credible 2-1 loss to league leaders Sydney, has now had nearly two weeks to put his stamp on the squad.
"Deansy has put in quite a simple structure and has gone back to the basics," fullback Matt Millar said. "That has worked well at training and even the Sydney game. We frustrated Sydney, which not many teams have been able to do. We held them to two or three chances. If our communication was a bit better and we pass on players, maybe we avoid those goals."
Defensive general Nikolai Topor-Stanley sat out training on Friday due to a stomach bug but travelled with the team to Melbourne and is expected to play.
Lewis Italiano replaces Glen Moss (calf) in goals in the only likely change to from the Sydney defeat.
"There were a lot of positives we took out of the Sydney game," Millar said. "The performance was there but we really want to start picking up points and start challenging for that top six spot."
Incredibly the Jets, despite being without a win in six games, are only six points outside the top six.
"It proves that there is still so much to play for this year," Millar said. "If you get on a roll ... it is very easy to be in the six because it is so tight. Anyone can get results off anyone. If we can get a win here, it really sends a message."
As well as Maclaren, who has netted nine goal in 12 games against the Jets, and Noone, former La Liga forward Markel Susaeta is expected to make his debut after signing this week.
"Anyone who has played in La Liga is obviously going to be of a high calibre," Millar said. "It will be a good test if he comes on, but we are not really focused on individuals, more on their structure."
Under Merrick, Millar pushed forward in attack at every opportunity, which often left the Jets exposed on the counter attack.
Although he still has a licence to venture down the right touchline, the 23-year-old is mindful of getting the balance right, especially against City and the danger Jamie Maclaren and Craig Noone pose in transition.
"I'm still being encouraged to get forward, I just have to pick the right time," Millar said.
"Jamie and Craig are both smart players and will look to expose the space we leave. If I do go forward, we have to make sure we fill the holes and have cover. We have to make sure we are set up to deal with a quick, smart player, who runs into good channels."
