Coach's corner: Former Socceroo Robbie Slater urges Jets to give Craig Deans top job

Speaking after the Jets' strong performance in a 1-all draw with Wanderers on Friday night, Slater offered his full backing of Deans, who has been caretaker coach since the shock departure in October by Carl Robinson to Western Sydney.

"For me, they give the job to him," Slater said. "I think he has shown enough. You can see the way the players react to him. He deserves a go.

"And he is Newcastle through and through. You can't get a better candidate at this moment in time, given the current situation. The way they are playing, the way the group is ... I think he deserves a crack."

Slater's endorsement - and the Jets' spike in results - are likely to have arrived too late for Deans.

The Newcastle Herald understands that the Jets advisory panel conducted interviews with a shortlist of four candidates last week.

Jets' 2008 championship-winning coach Gary Van Egmond, whom Deans worked under during the former's second stint in charge, is one of a host of Australian coaches linked to the position.

There has reportedly also been interest from former Leeds United, Sunderland, Preston, Huddersfield and Blackpool manager Simon Grayson and one-time Cameroon and Jamaican coach Winfried Schaefer.

"I'm sure there are other applicants who have strong cases as well," Slater said. "I can't remember how many times he has been told: 'off you go Deansy, you are taking over'. I think maybe it is his time. They are a happy group. I saw that in Wollongong [before the win over Wellington]."

READ MORE: JETS COME FROM BEHIND TO EARN DESERVED POINT

Deans is in charge of the Jets academy but has been working with the A-League squad for the past 12 months.

Initially, he took over after the sacking of Ernie Merrick. Then, once Robinson was appointed, he stayed on as an assistant coach before again inheriting the squad on the eve of this season.

However, this time around the former A-League defender has put his own stamp on the team. He tweaked their attack and although losing the opening four games, they performed admirably without luck.

The returns have arrived in the past two weeks in the form of a 2-1 win over Wellington and a share of the points with Wanderers.

"I think he has shown in the past six games, and what Newcastle have shown in the past six games ... they were in most of those games and put in two terrific performances in the past two games, particular against Wanderers," Slater said.

A foundation player who has coached the Jets W-League side and been associated with the club in some capacity for most of the past 15 years, Deans knows the club and the region.

Previously he has been reluctant to throw his name forward, preferring to let his actions do the talking.

Quizzed again on Friday night about his interest in the position, Deans said: "I have been asked this questions for 12 or 13 weeks now. My answer is always a respectful one. The club will make the best decision at the right time. I still will follow that line.

"I would love to coach in the A-League, and if it is not going to be here, opportunities will open somewhere else, or overseas or where ever it might be.

"I have really enjoyed the past 12 months [working with A-League squad]. It has been a rocky road, a challenging one and a rewarding one at times. Things will happen when they are due to happen."

After a heavy schedule of four games in 13, days the Jets were given three days off training and reassemble on Tuesday ahead of Sunday's clash against Melbourne City at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Although needing freshen up, Deans said the nine-day break between games was not ideal in terms of momentum.

"We would love to have another game in three or four days," Deans said. "But we haven't had much opportunity [in recent weeks] to plan and work on specifics. It will be nice to have a full week of training and be able to put some work into the players."

The visit by City, sparks another series of three games in seven days.

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