Mariner veteran in mix to fix mess

CALLS are growing for Mariners legend John Hutchinson to be offered the chance to try to resurrect the Central Coast, but it remains to be seen whether the club’s record appearance holder would be tempted, given the scale of the challenge.

As the shell-shocked club came to terms with the exit of Mike Mulvey (pictured) hours after a shambolic 8-2 loss at home to Wellington, the search for a sixth coach in 5½ years is likely to be delayed for weeks.

A short-term ap-pointment will be made within the next 48 hours to see out the rest of this season, with the club considering an outside caretaker or assistant coach Nick Montgomery for the final six games.

After that a long-term choice will be made in the offseason, amid increasing questions over the future of the club itself after a fifth horror campaign in a row. Mulvey was sacked on Saturday night after a defeat that mirrored an identical loss to Newcastle almost a year ago just as Mulvey was being appointed.

With the club eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, the field of well-credentialed candidates willing to take over is unlikely to be wide.

Mike Phelan, interim assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United but still nominally the Mariners sporting director, is due to fly here during the EPL’s international break next week to hold talks with club owner Mike Charlesworth, two newly appointed directors and CEO Shaun Mielekamp over the club’s whole direction.

Hutchinson would be a hugely popular choice with supporters, after making more than 250 appearances for the club and acting as assistant coach before leaving to earn his ccoaching spurs at Seattle in the US.

Last year he returned to Australia as assistant coach of A-League entrant WWestern United, but it iis understood the club would not stand in his way should the Mariners come calling. But Hutchinson turned down the offer of a role at the Mariners two years ago.

Key to the long-term thinking will be Sydney-based investment banker Anton Tagliaferro, the owner of a club in Malta and who joined the Mariners board recently, plus Accenture consultant Kamran Kahn. Both have invested in the club, and Tagliaferro has been active in discussions over the club’s footballing future.