Jets plunge further into A-League crisis

Sep 8, 2016 - 8:20 AM Newcastle are in crisis following the shock departures of head coach Scott Miller and assistant Luciano Trani less than a month from the opening weekend of the A-League season.

Trani was released by the Jets on Thursday, a day after the club sensationally parted ways with Miller amid reports of a rift between the pair.

Club chief executive Lawrie McKinna refused to comment on the falling out that reportedly happened on a recent tour of China, citing a confidentiality clause.

Trani departed with immediate effect - three months after joining the club.

"We have chosen to give the club's new head coach the opportunity to appoint his own assistant," McKinna said via a statement.

"We wish (Trani) well in his future endeavours."

Youth coach Clayton Zane will oversee first-team training until further notice and will be at the helm on Sunday when they play Edgeworth FC.

The Jets play another warm-up game against Melbourne City in Ballarat on September 18 ahead of their opening A-League fixture, against champions Adelaide at Hunter Stadium, on October 9.

McKinna spoke to Fox Sports just hours before the club announced Trani's release and admitted the timing of Miller's departure was not ideal.

"We've not started (looking) yet because this all came out of the blue yesterday and we've been putting out fires for the afternoon and this morning," McKinna said.

No timeline has been set for the hiring of a new head coach.

The club has copped a backlash from fans over the decision to dump Miller with McKinna agreeing he was a popular figure in the Hunter region.

He denied suggestions the coach had become frustrated at new Chinese owners of the club requesting he purchase a Chinese player.

"It was never on the owners' books that he had to sign a Chinese player if he wasn't good enough," he said.

"It was a disagreement and differing of opinions about the direction of football at the club.

"There was no backing down so it came across and the club decided to move Scott Miller on."

Source: AAP