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Huge name looms as shock A-League coaching candidate

Australian Associated Press

The Newcastle Jets have no shortage of potential candidates for the vacant coaching position at the club.

However, there is one name that arguably stands out above the rest.

Former England and Manchester City coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is among the names put forward for the Jets role, following the sacking of veteran coach Ernie Merrick.

The last-placed Jets sacked Merrick on Monday, off the back of Sunday's 4-0 thumping from Melbourne Victory.

Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna revealed some agents were sending in coaching clients' resumes even before the final whistle.

"After the third goal on Sunday night we had six CVs actually coming through during the game, which I think's quite rude," McKinna said on Tuesday.

Jets coach Ernie Merrick was sacked after Newcastle's 4-0 loss to Melbourne Victory.
The Newcastle Jets sacked coach Ernie Merrick after the 4-0 loss to Melbourne Victory. Pic: Getty

"We'll be looking all over. And again, today, yesterday, the emails started coming through - phone calls started coming.

Jets looking for someone to ‘fit into the Newcastle culture’

"There's a lot of interest out there for any A-League job and some of the names... I got one of the ex-English manager, I got Sven-Goran Eriksson's CV get sent through yesterday," McKinna said.

Now aged 71, Eriksson most recently coached the Philippines last year after a stint in China with top-flight sides Guangzhou R&F and Shanghai SIPG.

McKinna said the club was open to candidates from both Australia and overseas.

"We need someone who's going to come in and offer something, has got a bit of a track record and can stamp something here and be here for the right reasons as well," he added

"So there's going to be interest from all over but there's no defined (type of coach) - we want somebody who can come in and fit into the Newcastle culture and get results."

Pictured here, veteran coaches Marcello Lippi, left, and Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Sven-Goran Eriksson (R) is among the candidates for the vacant Newcastle coaching role. Pic: Getty

McKinna said it was his decision to sack Merrick, with chairman Martin Lee approving his call.

The timing was based on the belief the Jets could still make finals.

W-League coach Craig Deans and A-League assistant Qiang Li have taken the reins on an interim basis.

McKinna said he hoped to have a permanent coach in place by Newcastle's clash with Wellington on January 24, while there would be money available to bring in a player in the transfer window after the new mentor is appointed.

The Jets have been up for sale for a year, but McKinna said he had a gut feeling Lee - who has knocked back two offers for the club - could yet take them off the market and focus on "stablising things".

Lee's company, Ledman Group, has been affected by the trade tariff war between the United States and China.