RESPECTED goalkeeping coach Clint Gosling will look overseas for a new job after he was sacked by the Newcastle Jets, ending a 17-year association with the region’s flagship team.
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Gosling was told on Wednesday that coach Gary van Egmond wanted to take a new direction.
Former Newcastle Breakers goalkeeper Bob Catlin has been appointed in an interim role and accompanied the team to Adelaide for the clash against the Reds last night.
The dismissal came as a shock to Gosling, who has been in charge of the Jets senior, youth team and W-League programs.
‘‘I am gutted,’’ Gosling told the Newcastle Herald last night.
Gosling, 51, played for KB United in the club’s formative years in the national league and returned to the Newcastle Breakers for a swansong season in 1993-94 before moving into coaching.
Apart from one season when Steve Dorman worked under Lee Sterrey at the Breakers, Gosling has been a mainstay.
Gosling is also the goalkeeping coach of the New Zealand national team, which is a part-time role, but intends to search for another full-time gig.
‘‘I will put my name out there even if I have to go overseas,’’ he said.
‘‘As coach of the New Zealand national team keepers, I have been to a World Cup, two Confederation Cups. I coached Ante Covic to the grand final win 2008. I suggest my achievements speak for themselves.’’
Gosling holds no animosity towards the club and said they had been nothing but professional.
‘‘Am I disappointed that my time at the club is at an end? Absolutely. But that is football,’’ he said.
‘‘My association with Newcastle football is a long one, in total 17 years as a player and a coach. I have repeatedly turned down offers due to my loyalties to Newcastle football.
‘‘Do I believe my removal to be justified? No. That said, Gary’s decision must be respected. I wish the franchise, my keepers and the team every success.’’
Van Egmond said it was a hard but necessary decision to let Gosling go.
‘‘We wanted to freshen the area up and give the keepers a different voice,’’ he said.
‘‘Ben Kennedy, for example, has been hearing the same voice for a long time now.
‘‘I have known Goose [Gosling] for a lot of years, and that is where it becomes difficult with staff members. I want to see people who bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy to that position. I don’t think that has been the case with Clint for some time.’’
Catlin’s appointment, albeit caretaker, follows that of Melbourne-born youth team coach Arthur Papas.
Both go against the grain of the Jets’ ‘‘local policy’’, but chief executive Robbie Middleby said getting the right person was the priority.
‘‘The first port of call is for a Newcastle person,’’ he said.
‘‘That is the priority in any role, but it has to be the best person for the job.’’
Meanwhile, Professional Footballer Australia chief executive Brendan Schwab said yesterday that progress had been made towards an amicable resolution between the Jets and unwanted marquee player Jason Culina.
‘‘We are working towards a favourable outcome,’’ Schwab said. ‘‘The club has been been very good. They understand it is an involved matter and have been supportive.’’
