Anthony Caceres, Mitchell Duke and Storm Roux have extended their contracts with the Club.
Midfielder Anthony Caceres, attacker Mitchell Duke and defender Storm Roux have each finalised new deals with the Club to ensure their medium term futures remain with the men from Gosford-s idyllic bayside arena.
Caceres- and Roux-s new contracts will see them remain with the Mariners until the completion of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season, while Duke will continue to cause nightmares for defenders until the end of the 2015/16 campaign.
Today, Central Coast Mariners boss Phil Moss said that retaining three of the team-s top talents is in line with his and the Club-s strategy to develop exciting young players with the capacity not only to make an impact in Australia-s top flight, but also to go further in their careers.
“Since day one the Mariners have worked hard to develop young players, and our record of grooming talent was best exemplified throughout Australia-s recent FIFA World Cup campaign when no less than four former Central Coast players took to the field for the Socceroos,” Moss said.
“We view Anthony, Mitchell and Storm as key members of our squad, and know that each has a lot of development left in their game. With the staff, facilities and culture we will provide them here at the Mariners each player understands they will be in an environment where they can progress personally, and help us a Club achieve continued success on the pitch.”
While rival Hyundai A-League Clubs have undoubtedly stolen the spotlight in recent months with rafts of new signings and substantial overhauls of their squads, Moss explained that the Mariners will enter the 2014/15 season with a largely settled roster capable of growing as a group.
“It should be remembered that we had a big transfer window in January this year with five new players (Eddy Bosnar, Kim Seung-yong, Glen Trifiro, Matt Sim and Isaka Cernak) arriving at the Club,” Moss said. “Each of those players are on contract for next season, and I believe each will be like a new signing considering they will each undertake their first full, four month pre-season with us.”
“We also have two incredibly exciting youngsters, Anthony Kalik and Liam Rose, joining us on contracts from the Australian Institute of Sport. Anthony and Liam will start their pre-season with our other youngsters next week, before the full squad resumes on July 14.”
“On top of that, promising young defenders Michael Neill and Hayden Morton were out injured for much of last campaign, so they will also be like new recruits for us next season.”
Still, Moss said supporters can look forward to witnessing a few fresh faces donning the Club-s colours at Central Coast Stadium next campaign.
“We will be adding two to three new players before the start of the season, and one of those players will be a striker,” he explained. “The hunt for another number nine is a global one, and we’re considering options from all corners of the football world.”
“Certainly we are taking our time with our recruits, as we must do, to ensure the right players and people are given the opportunity to represent our Club, our Members and fans.”
Moss hinted that supporters can expect to hear news of more re-signings at the Club throughout July.
ANTHONY CACERES ON RE-SIGNING WITH THE MARINERS: “I am very happy to re-sign with the Mariners. It-s a great Club with great people, and I believe it-s the right place to help me achieve greater things in my football career. Last season was a bit of a transition season for the Club, but we-ve built a new base, and I have no doubt in the ability of this team.”
MITCHELL DUKE ON RE-SIGNING WITH THE MARINERS: “Obviously I am very happy to extend my stay. The Mariners have such a great family environment, so I am happy to stick around as long as I can really. The Club has always been really good to me, I enjoy the fans, and love the boys. I feel like I have a real connection with Coast now and my main focus is giving it all I-ve got for the Mariners in training and in matches.”
STORM ROUX ON RE-SIGNING WITH THE MARINERS: “I had such a great time in my first season and am happy to extend my stay. I love the boys and am really looking forward to next season. My focus for the next few seasons will be winning things with the Mariners – whether it-s the Hyundai A-League or the Westfield FFA Cup.”
