W-League: Jets coach Ash Wilson confident Newcastle can push for finals

The 36-year-old has been the Jets assistant coach for the past five years and was installed as caretaker coach for the second half of last season when Craig Deans stepped across to help out the A-League side.

"I feel very honoured and privileged to be named as the first female head coach for the club," Wilson said.

"I love the club and I've worked with the girls for the past few years and I'm grateful for the support and the opportunity given to me by Craig and also the faith shown in me by the club."

The 2020-21 W-League season starts on December 27 and Wilson's first order of business is finalising a squad to start pre-season training by mid-November.

The Jets were run on a shoe-string budget last campaign and were the only club with no imports or internationals, instead relying heavily on home-grown talent. While they were competitive in most matches, they ended up finishing last on goal difference.

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It is expected to be a similar scenario in terms of budget this year but many of the Jets' rivals are also likely to be looking local after a mass exodus of high-profile W-League players to European competitions as well as the impact of the coronavirus global pandemic.

"I'm excited about what potential we have because of some of the forced changes that are going to occur to other clubs that splash out a lot of money, get internationals, have Matildas," Wilson said.

"This has forced their hand a little bit. We've been encouraging our quality local players, having a few younger players. We've been competitive all the while playing, I guess, in a way that this pandemic has forced other clubs maybe to make some changes through.

"So I'm excited in terms of what we're going to be able to do. I think the competition can be anyone's this year and I definitely want to make sure that we're pushing for that."

The Jets have sustained a "massive loss" in co-captain and holding midfielder Clare Wheeler's departure to Sydney, where she is working.

The Jets have also lost young guns Teigan Collister and Paige Kingston-Hogg to Sydney and injury respectively.

"We've probably got positions open in every line of the park," Wilson said.

"I'm looking for players that are going to be able to keep possession. I'm looking for players that have got good mentality. I'm looking for players that are going to be able to work as a team but also have the physical capabilities to do what I want them to do."

On her radar are strikers Jen Hoy and Jemma House, who were stand-out players in the Herald Women's Premier League.

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Hoy has made over 100 appearances in the National Women's Soccer League and the American, who is now based in Newcastle, was part of the Jets' 2016-17 squad.

She scored 24 goals in 13 appearances for Warners Bay this season in what was the possibly the biggest coup in WPL history.

"Jen is a fantastic player," Wilson said. "Obviously, she has a lot of experience from the US and she's played for the club before ... If she's interested, she's definitely someone I'd be considering further."

After four seasons in the United States college system, House led Newcastle Olympic to the WPL premiership-championship double with 33 goals in 16 games, including two in a 3-2 grand final win.

"I'm looking locally ... in the Sydney competition as well," Wilson said. "There's a lot of potential down there who have not had opportunities."

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