WHOLEHEARTED striker Roy O'Donovan is tired of hearing negativity about the Newcastle Jets and has urged his teammates to make a statement against fierce rivals Central Coast in Gosford on New Year's Eve.
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"It would be good for us to put a marker down and move forward," O'Donovan said.
"We want to get some positive vibes out there and for people to see that, no matter what has been said or what people think is happening in the background, the players are trying to do the right thing, and we want to win games.
"That won't change. It would be great for us, and I think we are more than capable of getting a very positive result in game one."
The Jets were the feel-good story from a COVID-19-interrupted 2019-20 A-League season.
They recorded three wins and a draw after the league resumed in July and played attractive, possession-based football under Carl Robinson. Although falling just short of the finals, there was excitement about the club's future, including a much-needed new owner.
However, in a turbulent off-season, Robinson defected to Western Sydney and has since been joined by Berni Ibini.
Dimi Petratos, Joe Ledley, Wes Hoolahan, Nick Fitzgerald, Abdiel Arroyo and Bobby Burns also have new homes. Glen Moss retired, while Matt Millar is on loan to English League One club Shrewsbury Town.
The arrivals hall has been less hectic, with Jack Duncan, Ramy Najjarine and Valentino Yuel the major additions. Ali Abbas and young guns Jack Armson (scholarship) and Tete Yengi (scholarship) are likely to join them.
Arthur Pappas, who was expected to take the reins from interim coach Craig Deans, will now take charge of Japanese third-tier club Kagoshima United.
Club ownership remains an issue, with the owners of the other A-League clubs likely to bankroll the franchise for an interim period.
Despite the upheaval, the Jets eked out solid pre-season results, including 3-all draws with Melbourne City and Macarthur.
However most pundits have tipped the Jets' off-field woes to flow onto the field.
"We have been getting written off all pre-season," O'Donovan said. "Since Carl left in October, the players have taken the brunt of it. As players, we need to stand up and be counted and show the fans that we are fighting for that blue jersey.
"The pre-season is never straight forward. You have trialists coming in, you have people who are behind in fitness, people who have come back in great shape, sometimes you are trying to find a new style of play... there are a lot of things at play. But the past couple of weeks I have seen us turn a corner where we look like a team. I think we can be a team who excites the supporters if we really have the desire to show what we are all about."
The Jets face a Mariners outfit under pressure for different reasons after collecting the wooden spoon for the past three years.
The bitter neighbours fought out a 1-all draw in the season opener last season.
Thursday will be the first time an F3 derby has been held to bring in the new year.
O'Donovan spent two seasons at the Mariners. He was part of a 3-1 win over Wellington on New Years Eve in 2015 and netted a goal in a 2-all draw with Melbourne City the following year.
"It's the Mariners' biggest game of the season," the 35-year-old Irishman said. "Historically, that's when they get bums on seats at the ground in Gosford. We want to spoil the party as such and kick into the new year in style. I's not going to be easy, but it's a challenge we are excited about.
"Game one against the Mariners in a derby game, there is no better place to put a marker down."
The Mariners conceded a whopping 55 goals last season - six more than second-worst Adelaide - and recently lost arguably their best defender Ziggy Gordon to Western Sydney.
"Their manager has been there two and a half seasons, you'd imagine he has put his stamp on the style of football now," O'Donovan said. "I don't know if they are going to change their personnel or formation. But I do know they are going to be at home, it is the first game of the season and they will want to start right. We are no different."
Meanwhile, Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna has issued a public apology to former Jet Bernie Ibini after the club boss accused the attacker of "taking the piss" by using mental health issues as an excuse to get out of his contract to move to Wanderers.
Speaking at a men's health luncheon in late November, McKinna said: "We have to recognise mental health, that it's an illness. But when people take the piss, it's wrong, because it affects so many people and so many families, because it's real. It's disgraceful ... There's certain agents in the world who are advising people to use that mental health thing and I think that's disrespectful to anybody who suffers from anxiety, depression and stuff like that. That's bullshit ..."
However, in a post on social media Saturday night McKinna said his remarks were "entirely inappropriate".
"I wish to apologise to Bernie for those remarks as they were entirely inappropriate," McKinna wrote. "We were obviously disappointed that a player of Bernie's ability wanted to leave the the club and that disappointment got the better of me ... I wish Bernie all the best for the forthcoming season and again apologise for any harm caused."
McKinna would not reveal the reasons behind his apology.
"I just want to put it behind me," he said.
The Jets host Western Sydney in round two on January 11.
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