Defiant Charlesworth tells ailing Mariners to 'dig deep'

Central Coast owner Mike Charlesworth insists nobody will be “feeling sorry” for themselves this Christmas, as the Mariners bid to bring some buoyancy back to a fast-sinking season.

Matt Simon (centre-left) celebrates a goal with his Mariners teammates Source: Getty Images

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s F3 derby against the Newcastle Jets, the Englishman delivered a seasonal message of salvation amid the prevailing gloom of just two points from their opening eight A-League games.

In no mood to entertain the damning prospect of back-to-back wooden spoons, Charlesworth told The World Game: “It’s been a hard start and it’s been a tough two or three years ... it’s not new for us.

“You buckle down, get on with it and fight your way out of this, that’s what we do.

“Nobody is feeling sorry for themselves. We’ve dug this hole and have to dig ourselves out of it, it’s that simple.

“Everybody is determined to put things right and nobody is despondent.

“Of course we are upset by results but I think we will come back stronger because you learn more from difficulties than you do from success.”

Charlesworth remains convinced that coach Mike Mulvey, who has not been helped by injuries to key players like Ross McCormack and Tommy Oar, is the right man to recalibrate the side.

With sporting director Mike Phelan otherwise engaged trying to help salvage Manchester United’s season riding shot-gun to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mulvey will carry the burden of providing a circuit breaker, possibly starting in Gosford against the eighth-placed Jets.

“Mike Phelan has restructured our Academy and we’ve invested heavily in that over the last six months,” Charlesworth added.

“There’s a lot of investment going into the club and a lot of ideas which will put us on a much stronger financial footing going into the future.

“Work is being done but people don’t see that. They see the results, and I get that. That’s understandable.

“We are working hard and hopefully the results will turn around and the finances will get better and better.

“Mike Mulvey has my backing, absolutely. We won’t be making any changes in regards to the coaching staff.

“Hopefully we can pick up our first win of the season against the Jets and provide a bit of Christmas cheer.”

The Mariners have been depicted as, at best treading water, by a number of critics and commentators, including former Adelaide and Sydney FC coach John Kosmina, who scathingly described the club as a “graveyard for players” on Fox Sports.

But Charlesworth is defiant, firing back: “I’m not too interested in what John Kosmina has to say on us. Or what anybody has to say, for that matter.

“We’re not getting smashed in games and haven’t been that far off. But we are lacking a bit of quality and composure.

“Maybe now is an opportunity to give some youngsters a chance - a couple have already stood out.”

With goals desperately needed, the Mariners are unsure when - or even if - on-loan McCormack will return to the club.

McCormack, who scored 14 goals in 17 appearances for Melbourne City last season, managed one in five for the Mariners before returning to parent club Aston Villa earlier this month for treatment on a knee injury.

Communications since have yet to determine a return date, or even if the Mariners might need to seek compensation should the season-long loan be at an end already.