Newcastle Jets' radar extends to NPL soccer as coach Carl Robinson awaits budget

In the meantime, the industrious tactician is scouring the National Premier Leagues for hidden gems.

The players union, Football Federation Australia and club owners have been locked in talks over a wage deal and collective bargaining agreement for the 2021 campaign, which is slated to start in January.

Club owners, already facing a halving of the broadcast deal, have been further hit by COVID and are pushing for a 30% cut to the salary cap.

The players argue they have already made financial sacrifices, with some forfeiting 80% of their salary for final two months, to complete last season.

"The next pay date [for contracted players] is September 15," Robinson said. "I think it needs to be done by then. How it is done ... at the end of the day, they all have to be in agreement, whether it is 10, 20 or 30 per cent.

"That is the state of football at the moment. It's not just in Australia where this is happening, it is world-wide.

"It will need a bit of calmness, a bit of stability and everyone understanding the situation we are in to get through these next six-to-nine months."

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The Jets have 14 players on their books for 2021 and are in talks with Nigel Boogaard, Abdiel Arroyo and Joe Ledley.

"If I want to keep the squad together - with Arroyo, with Boogs, with Joe - I can't do that if the budget changes significantly," Robinson said. "I don't want to commit to players knowing that in two weeks, I may have to say I don't have the money to pay you. We have a good group of players. I am in a very good position roster-wise in relation to what I want to do. It will depend on the financial side of it, but I will be looking in the NPL for sure."

Since the Jets' season ended, Robinson has travelled to Sydney to watch five NPL games and viewed a number of others online.

"I have had about 25 names thrown at me," Robinson said. "We have split them up among the staff and I have probably watched 11 of the players.

"You can't make a judgement on a player on one game. There are three or four I have highlighted who have potential. I will look at them again over the next three or four games. Then I will do some research on them with managers, coaches ... people who know them.

"That is the market we are in. We are only a very young academy so we are still working on that. We have Lucas Mauragis coming through, he will be part of the squad. Noah James is home-grown, so is Angus."

The NPL is semi-professional and Robinson said it was crucial to have an open mind when assessing players.

"You have to strip it all back," Robinson said. "All I am looking for is characteristics in a player. I am not looking at whether he is fit or not. If I am looking at a No.8 - does he have the ability to play in between people, can he get on the half turn, is he aware of his position, does he know what he doing with the ball when he receives it, can he deal with the physical aspect? You have to take the player out of that environment and think how he would stack up in your environment."

As well as look at players, Robinson has been heavily involved with the academy.

"I'm watching them play and train and watching the youth team," he said. "That's what I enjoy doing. I did it at my last club. I have a big input on the football side from top to bottom. The only way I can have an input and try and head it in the right direction is if I understand what we are working with. I can't do that unless I get on the grass with them."

Outside of football, Robinson is on the hunt for a house for himself, wife Laura and son, Milo, 11, who are out of isolation after arriving from Canada last month.

"I wanted to let them get out of quarantine and get some fresh air first," he said. "We will now look at getting a house and getting my son into school."

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