NEWCASTLE Jets could be set for a major overhaul of the playing roster unless the current crop can spark a charge to the final series.
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The Jets sit in eighth place, six points outside the top six, with four rounds remaining and are looking down the barrel of missing the play-offs for a seventh straight season.
Imports Morten Nordstrand, Mateo Poljak and Ma Leilei and regulars Andrew Hoole, Daniel Mullen and Ben Kantarovski head a list of 11 players off contract.
“This is the time of the season when decisions are made,” Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna said. “It’s time to stand up and be counted. Show the coach you can play and win games. Boys will get an opportunity to stay at the club if they are doing well. We want them to step up.”
Seasoned striker Labinot Haliti, keeper Ben Kennedy (who ruptured his Achilles in the pre-season), trainee Kristian Brymora and mid-season arrivals Joel Allwright and Harry Sawyer are also yet to stitch new deals.
As long-term home-grown players, Kennedy and Kantarovski qualify for salary-cap concessions. Hoole had a two-year deal withdrawn after failing to agree on a transfer fee clause.
It may not just be players in the final year of their deals who are moved on.
In January, coach Mark Jones said if an offer came for Aleksandr Kokko “we'd be willing to let him go” and the Newcastle Herald understands that the Finnish striker is not the only contracted player under pressure to perform.
Jones inherited the squad when appointed on the eve of the season after Scott Miller was sacked.
Andy Brennan, Radovan Pavicevic and Mitch Cooper were released in January. Talks with Mark Bridge broke down when the striker suffered a knee injury in Thailand.
McKinna said talks were continuing with former Socceroo Michael Thwaite, who has been without a club since released by Chinese Super League outfit Liaoning Whowin in February.
“He is definitely of interest,” McKinna said.
“He is experienced, can play as a holding midfielder or centreback and is a good character.”
Apart from Thwaite the Jets have tabled an offer with Roy O’Donovan and spoken to Fahid Ben Khalfallah.
“It shows the the calibre of player we are trying to bring to the club,” McKinna said.
