Skipper Boogaard backing Newcastle Jets to silence the doubters

After a tumultuous off-season overshadowed by unresolved speculation about the club's ownership, as well as a mini-exodus of coaching staff and players, the Jets take on Wellington Phoenix today in their final trial match against A-League opposition.

The "friendly" will also double as members' day, allowing the Jets a chance to impress their most loyal supporters in their last hit-out before the December 31 season-opener against Central Coast at Gosford.

"Once the season starts, we're confident we can pick up results," said Boogaard, who confirmed on Friday he had signed a one-year contract extension with Newcastle.

"Hopefully that also helps the supporters see what's possible this year.

"There's a lot of negativity going around in the background, but ultimately our focus is to win games, and we believe we can.

"We'd like to make sure that we're putting an entertaining style of football on the park and the supporters are coming back to witness that."

Boogaard said the Jets had encountered "some difficult times in the past, but we always come through the other side".

Caretaker coach Craig Deans voiced similar thoughts and was confident the off-field circus would not impact on game-day performances.

"People are going to talk about the situation of the club, and say it's desperate, or a basket case, or whatever," he said.

"But if you look back at the history of the last 20 years in particular, it's times like these when you actually see the resilience of the club and the attitude of the key people ...

"We want to win every game we play. If we get that right, people's attitudes change."

There will be no competition points on offer today but Deans said winning would be important, after three consecutive draws against rival A-League teams in pre-season hit-outs.

"We want to start winning games, and we probably could have won all of them if we were a bit more clinical in the front third and a little bit more desperate defensively," Deans said.

"We need to get all aspects of the game happening well tomorrow. We want to win and go into the season on a positive note."

Boogaard, who sat out training on Friday but will play against Wellington, said a win would cap off a "great pre-season" and hopefully reassure the members in attendance.

"We've got a very loyal support base, and they're here in numbers regardless of how we're doing," he said.

"That's the biggest thing for me. Making sure we go out and represent them and give them something to be proud about."

The 34-year-old defender was "delighted" to re-sign with Newcastle, for whom he has made 104 of his 257 A-League appearances.

"I'm a home-town boy and this is the club I always wanted to play for, as a junior," he said. "I'm excited to go around for one more year and represent this football community."

He was unsure if this will be his swansong season.

"My focus right now is to just get through the season, play every game, and go from there," he said.

Veteran attacker Ali Abbas will be hoping to put his best foot forward today.

A strong showing might be enough to earn the Iraq international a second stint with the Jets, for whom he played 60 games between 2009 and 2012.