For the best part of 15 years, Mark Jones had occupied the assistant coach's seat.
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But after the shock and swift exit by Scott Miller on a pre-season trip to China, Jones was given the job of righting the course of the Jets.
It was a proud moment for Jones, a parochial Novocastrian who grew up in Toronto, played a decade in the National Soccer League before turning to coaching and cutting his teeth in a variety of roles across Australia and Asia.
For the first time since Jim Foley left the Breakers dugout 22 years ago, the local team has a local coach.
"I don't just want to put out markers and cones, I want to actually help change the outcome," Jones said. "I want to make this place better. In my home town, where I am accountable, I want to make a difference. It's about coming in and making a difference, caring ... giving a s---."
Jones, when assistant to Gary van Egmond, helped deliver a region with football embedded in its roots a lone championship in 2008.
"I still get goose bumps talking about 2008," Jones said. "We walked around town feeling like a million dollars. You knew you were respected. We bumped the Knights off the back page and everyone wanted to talk about the Jets."
Since that glorious day - February 24, 2008 - the Jets had reached finals once in 2009-10.
Six coaches, including caretakers, had come and gone.
Each with their own personnel and philosophy. Each requesting time to make a mark to the point where "rebuild" has become a dirty word for a frustrated Jets faithful.
But on the back of a solid base forged by previous coach Scott Miller, and boasting arguably the best roster in recent seasons, Jones was optimistic.
"I am not going to change a lot, I'm going to add to it," Jones said.
Jones had been given the nod ahead of 80-plus applicants, including a host of big names from overseas.
He had a strong relationship with Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna, having played alongside the Scotsman at the Newcastle Breakers and working as an assistant to him at Chongqing Lifan, but bristled at the suggestion his appointment was a "job for the boys".
"I have worked 20 years to get a CV as good if not better than anyone in the game," he said
The controversial sacking of Miller and later his assistant Luciano Trani over a dispute between the pair in China, had left a success-craving fans base disillusioned.
Owner Martin Lee, who after shelling out $5.5 million to buy the club set the ambitious goal of qualifying for the Asian Champions League within three years, adopted a conservative approach in year one and spent just below the $2.65m salary cap.
McKinna, Jones and assistant Clayton Zane didn't make any big promises. They just went about their work in a professional manner.
Their foreign legion of Wayne Brown (England), Aleksandr Kokko (Finland), Mateo Poljak (Croatia). Morten Nordstrand (Denmark) and Ma Leilei (China) weren't showstoppers.
A reborn Andrew Nabbout stepped into that role.
The powerhouse winger arrived in Newcastle after six months in Malaysia at Negeri Sembilan, where he scored nine goals in 14 games.
"I definitely have a point to prove," Nabbout said. "I have to show why I belong here. I have to bang in goals and get as many assists as I can. I went to Malaysia because I knew I was going to get game time. Although it wasn't an unbelievable experience, it made me a better player. I came back more confident. I have taken complacency out of my game completely. I know what it is like to be on the outer."
The started the campaign with an unlucky 1-1 draw against champions Adelaide United, a 4-0 whitewash of Brisbane Roar and a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with championship runners-up, Western Sydney.
Nabbout opened his account in a 2-1 loss to City in round six.
The goals continued to flow as the Jets mixed wins with draws and the occasional loss to stay inside the six.
January came and went without an additions to the rosters, despite Lee suggesting he was "open to having a conversation about it".
With 10 rounds remaining the Jets were in sixth spot and just one point off fifth, there was genuine hope that Newcastle's seven-year finals drought would be broken.
They didn't win another and finished the campaign with a club-record six successive losses, conceding 19 goals in the process, to collect the wooden spoon.
Having already signed Dimi Petratos and Daniel Georgievski, Jones had been promised funds to improve the squad for next season.
The coach didn't make it that far.
A 2-0 surrender to Sydney in the final round signalled the end and Jones became the ninth coaching casualty in 12 seasons.
"You obviously want to keep your job but I'm not stupid," Jones said. "The way the season has finished off is not good. For me, there's not that much that needs to change, other than adding a bit of quality to the squad. And that for me is the disappointing thing. Next season the owner will spend some money and the results will improve."
After sounding out Ante Milicic and Josep Gombau and receiving interest from Robbie Fowler, Harry Kewell and former Premier League boss Steve Kean, McKinna announced on May 10 that two-time championship winning coach Ernie Merrick had signed a two-year deal.
"I feel this club is going places," Merrick told the Herald. "I am not one for trying to buy time. Because of the set-up, the facilities, the staff and the culture of the town - historically it is a great place for football - I think we can make a substantial difference in season one. That is certainly what I intend to do. I am not one who has a four-or-five-year plan. It is about doing it and doing it now."
