A-League: Coach insists he has just scratch surface with rejuvenated Jets

The Jets boast the best record over the final third of the season, highlighted by wins over championship-contenders Sydney, Melbourne City, Wellington and Western United.

In the cellar when Robinson was appointed after the departure of Ernie Merrick, the Jets won seven of their final 11 games - with just one loss - to finish on 34 points, a win outside of the top six.

"It is amazing what belief and confidence does to players," Robinson said after the 3-0 rout of Wellington. "And we are only just scratching the surface. I have been with them 11 games and have not had too much training time to work on it.

"Every coach will tell you they put a framework or structure out for the team. They play with the ball from that structure and they also press from that structure. I have had to fast track it a little bit without breaking it down into too much detail."

The 12-team 2020-21 season has been slated to start in December.

Clubs, Football Federation Australia and the players union are involved in high level discussions about a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the current arrangement which expires on August 31.

Once the CBA is finalised, a salary cap and starting date will be set.

"I'm not a big believer in having a three-month pre-season," Robinson said. "I don't think in any league in the world they have three months of preparation. Usually players have eight weeks maximum. I will give the players a bit of a time off. That won't change the expectation on where I want the levels to be when we get given a date to return. Then we can get into games and proper training. Since I have come here we haven't had a good block of training. I will in pre-season. There is a lot of work I want to do."

READ MORE: PETRATOS DEPARTURE OPENS DOOR FOR IBINI

Under Robinson, the Jets have been transformed into a possession-based team. They play out from the back and build up play through the channel - polar opposite to the tactics employed under Merrick.

Nick Fitzgerald's opening goal against Wellington involved 10 players and a sequence of 22 passes.

"It's the old Arsenal scenario when it comes off, it's brilliant and everyone loves it," Robinson said of Fitzgerald's goal.

"And when it doesn't come off and you lose the ball on the edge of the box, it leads to a transition moment and people will say 'well, we're really naive.'

"But I have said to the group I'm willing to take responsibility for mistakes, because when we get it right and our timing and movement is right we can score goals like that."

The Jets have 14 players under contract for next season, which will become 13 if, as expected, Dimi Petratos completes a move to Saudi Arabia.

Talks are advanced with Bernie Ibini and captain Nigel Boogaard and Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley are keen to extend their stays.

"We have two or three out of contract. We will be in talks with them," Robinson said.

"A lot of the players have done themselves a lot of good, especially because I want to play a certain style.

"We will have conversations. But it is not just me wanting them to stay. It's not just them wanting to stay. There are financial parameters which come into play as well.

"We have about 33 per cent of our salary cap free based upon on it staying the same ($3,2 million). "It gives us good outline on what we are able to do if nothing changes, but I think there will be changes. It will probably be less. That is for the powers above to decide with the players union. Once they do we will get to work.

"I have in my mind what I want. I am clear who I want to keep, who want I want to try and recruit and who I want to move. That won't change. But it is based upon budget. We are in a budget World and sometime you can't get what you want."

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