LAWRIE McKinna had no hesitation when he signed Carl Robinson to the longest contract for a coach in the Jets history.
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Robinson joined the A-League club on a three-and-a-half-year deal in February.
His appointment came four weeks after Ernie Merrick had been shown the door. The Scotsman had taken the Jets to the 2017-18 grand final but results had flatlined to the point where chief executive McKinna felt he had to make a tough call.
The move, though questioned in some quarters, had the desired result.
After three improved, albeit losing, efforts under interim coach Craig Deans, the Jets are unbeaten in six games and have been transformed into one of the form teams of the competition.
Since round 17, when they were stone-motherless last and $1.45 favourites to collect the wooden spoon, the Jets have accumulated 12 points from three wins and three draws.
Only Brisbane Roar (13 points) have fared better but they have played an extra game.
Wellington have also yielded 12 points but from just five games.
Robinson inked his deal on the eve of a 4-3 win over Central Coast and has been at the wheel for consecutive 1-all draws with Western Sydney and Melbourne Victory, a 3-2 triumph over Perth Glory and a 3-0 shut out against Adelaide.
"There has been a big turnaround," McKinna said. "There is a different vibe. Everyone is buzzing. Carl and [assistant] Kenny Miller have brought enthusiasm and drive to the club. They have also given the boys confidence."
As well as the new coaches, Roy O'Donovan and Connor O'Toole arrived from Brisbane in the transfer window and Bernie Ibini and Joe Ledley joined the squad two weeks ago. Only O'Donovan, who has three goals in five games, has made a significant contribution to date.
"It has freshened the place up with a couple of new players," McKinna said.
The resurgence has breathed life into the Jets' play-off hopes.
They sit in ninth spot on 21 points, six behind sixth-placed Western United with six games remaining.
Three of those games are likely to be played over the next seven days in a revised draw, which will compress the remaining fixtures into a four-week period because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Games will be played in empty stadiums with only participants and essential staff at the venue.
The Jets were to take on the third-placed Phoenix at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
However, Wellington and Melbourne Victory only arrived back from New Zealand on Tuesday and will be in isolation for 14 days, which is in line with the government's overseas travel edict.
The Jets had Tuesday off and reassemble for training on Wednesday.
McKinna will address the group on the latest developments and said the squad would be preparing for short turnarounds between games.
"We just have to get on with it," McKinna said. "The clubs are all together on it. The PFA has supported it. They play two games a week in Europe and all over the world."
However, McKinna said the tightly bunched games would put extra physical toll on the players and require the squad to be rotated.
Wes Hoolahan, Ledley and Ibini have played little football in the past six months and Nigel Boogaard was troubled early in the season with a groin issue.
Wellington, who are allowed to train during their 14 days in isolation, will be based in Australia for the remainder of the season, a decision general manager, David Dome, said was not taken lightly.
With the spread of the disease only expected to intensify in the coming weeks, there is a recognition that suspending the competition would effectively curtail it for this season.
