JETS chief executive Lawrie McKinna has no doubts that the FFA Cup will return as a prominent feature on the football calendar after the 2020 edition fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.
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The Jets progressed to the quarter-finals last year - their best result in the six years of the knockout competition - where they went down 1-0 to eventual winners Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium after the visitor's keeper Lewis Italiano was sent off in the 11th minute.
A-League sides enter the cup, which features local clubs, in the round of 32, which is usually held in late July.
However, most state federation competitions have been delayed, with many, including Northern NSW kicking off this weekend.
As a result, the preliminary rounds which determine the 21 teams to join the A-League clubs in the round of 32 have not been completed.
Northern NSW supplies two teams to the main draw. Last year it was Maitland and Edgeworth.
"They have just run out of time," McKinna said. "It's a fantastic competition. Last year we had a decent run. We beat Victory 3-2 in a great comeback and had a good game with Edgeworth. The only unfortunate thing was Wes Hoolahan getting injured down in Adelaide.
"The FFA cup has become a big part of the season.
"We normally start preseason in July and it gives you competitive games early on to break it up."
The FFA Cup will return next season, but with the A-League running from December to July it is likely to be brought forward.
"It will maybe have to start in March, with the A-League clubs introduced in June and the final in late July," McKinna said.
Jets new assistant coach Darren Bazeley attended his first session on Tuesday after completing 14-days in quarantine following his arrival from New Zealand.
He will be joined by fellow assistant Kenny Miller and Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley on Friday. Coach Carl Robinson will be on deck for his first session on Saturday. All three have returned from overseas.
"It was good to be out in the fresh air and meet the players individually," Bazeley said. "It was weird. I do feel like I know them because I have watched so much vision of them.
"Craig Deans. Daniel McBreen, the S and C coach and the physios have done a great job. They seem like a very honest group of players who are enjoying training and working hard.
"They are in a good space for Robbo to come back in and ramp it up tactically for the first game. They have a lot of enthusiasm and energy and look like they are really enjoying their football."
The Jets open their campaign against Sydney at Jubilee Oval in 13 days.
"For now, we are concentrating on getting ourselves right," Bazeley said. "Get back into how Robbo wants the team to play.
"From next week we will tweak it towards how Sydney will attack and defend, what their strengths and weaknesses are and how that effects us and the way we want to play."
