A-League: Young Socceroo set to arrive as Jets close in on new coach

Stamatelopoulos was released by Western United on Tuesday and will join the Jets until at least the end of the season.

The 21-year-old is the second striker the Jets have have picked up from Western United.

Valentino Yuel, unwanted by the Melbourne franchise at the end of last season, has scored three goals in the past three games and shapes as the find of the season.

Stamatelopoulos had five months remaining on his contract, but was keen to move in search of more opportunity.

"I think we are a little bit light up top and he has a lot to prove," Jets football manager Joel Griffiths said.

"He has signed for the remainder of this season, which means he has something to fight for.

"You could say the same about Andrew Nabbout when he came to the club. Players who need to prove something are very dangerous players.

"AP (Stamatelopoulos) is a player who can get into good goal-scoring areas. He is similar to Val, in that he has pace but he is probably more of a genuine number nine.

"I think he will do a good job for us."

Stamatelopoulos' arrival could be followed by that of a new coach.

More than 20 candidates have been whittled down to a shortlist of four.

The advisory panel of Alex Tobin, Julie Dolan, Ron Smith and Jets senior management, Shane Mattiske, Lawrie McKinna and Griffiths are in the final stages of the interview process.

The panel will make a recommendation to the board and an appointment could be finalised by the end of the week.

Craig Deans has been the interim coach since the shock departure in October by Carl Robinson, who exercised an exit clause, 10 games into a three-and-a-half year contract to defect to rivals Western Sydney.

Since the Welshman's exit, Jets owner Martin Lee had his A-League licence stripped and the club is now under the control of a consortium involving the owners of four other clubs.

The successful applicant will become Newcastle's fourth head coach in just over a year.

The new boss will inherit a side brimming with young talent and fresh from a confidence-boosting 2-1 win over Wellington.

The triumph followed unlucky losses to Brisbane (2-1) and Macarthur (2-1) and propelled them off the bottom and into 10th place.

Stamatelopoulos is expected to train with the Jets on Wednesday but cannot play until the A-League transfer window opens on February 16.

"In a way that could help him," Griffiths said. "It gives him a chance to get up to speed with the way we play. His fitness is OK because he has been training at Western United. All those things are ticked."

The powerful forward burst onto the A-League scene as a teenager for Adelaide United.

He made his debut at age 18 and immediately set a record for the player with the longest first and surname combined - 24 letters - in the 41-year history of Australia's national soccer competition.

He scored four goals in 15 appearances for the Reds, earning selection in the Young Soccereroos.

The Adelaide Comets product was one of a host of young players targeted by Western United for their maiden campaign and was given the honour of wearing the club's No.9 jersey.

However, with Besart Berisha leading the line, opportunities were limited.

He made 12 just appearances, two in the starting side, last season, but hadn't featured in the opening three games of the new campaign.

The Jets resume training on Wednesday after two days off. They meet Western Sydney at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night.

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