Mariners to wait until January for marquee

Jun 20, 2016 - 7:02 AM Central Coast are considering signing another A-League marquee but will likely hold out until the January transfer window.

The underperforming Mariners enjoyed a timely boost in January with the high-profile arrival of European Cup winner Luis Garcia, who attracted crowds and mentored the team's younger players.

Coach Tony Walmsley said the club was being careful with their recruitment as they set out to bounce back from the 2015-16 wooden spoon.

And though more players will be signed in the pre-season, any thoughts of a marquee would probably wait until the start of 2017.

"In terms of marquee I think we'll be looking at the January time, as we did this year," Walmsley said on Monday, the first day back in pre-season.

"To see how the club's positioned and who in the marquee ranks is available and affordable for the Mariners.

"I know Mike Charlesworth is certainly open to the prospect of bringing in another marquee for the back end of the season."

Walmsley has just returned from the UK, where he spent time with newly promoted English Premier League side Hull City and shadowed manager Steve Bruce.

"As much as you're tracking an experienced, high-level manager around and able to pick his brain, he's very generous with his time," he said.

"The set-up there is very similar to ours in terms of them being a small community-based club and punching their weight with the big guns."

Walmsley also met former Tottenham and QPR manager Harry Redknapp, who will work as a consultant throughout the next A-League season.

The Mariners have already signed former Sydney FC players Jacques Faty, Mickael Tavares and Ivan Necevski, along with former Melbourne Victory winger Connor Pain.

Source: AAP