Jets-setter ... Gary van Egmond (L), pictured with David Gallop, is set to stay with the Newcastle Jets. Photo: Ryan Osland
Having failed to lure Graham Arnold away from Central Coast at the start of the A-League season, Sydney FC have moved their sights further north and have made an offer to Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond to take over as coach.
However, just as Arnold eventually rebuffed the approach from the Sky Blues to stay with the Mariners, Newcastle fans will be relieved to hear van Egmond is set to stay with the Jets.
Sydney's hierarchy were keen to offer the 47-year old vastly improved terms on what he is earning in Newcastle to make the switch to his home town. However, it appears Van Egmond turned down the deal and will instead stay at Hunter Stadium until the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of the 2013-14 season.
That leaves interim coach Steve Corica still in charge of Sydney FC for another week as the club's board look to find a long-term replacement for Ian Crook, who resigned recently citing stress as the major factor.
Nathan Tinkler's Hunter Sports Group, who owns the Jets, vigorously pursued Van Egmond last season after acrimoniously sacking Branko Culina on the eve of that campaign. Despite van Egmond's arrival the Jets failed to make the finals, finishing seventh.
However, Newcastle have begun this season far more brightly, sitting third heading into December and impressing with their attack-minded style, even if their defence has leaked 16 goals in eight matches - equal with Melbourne Victory as the league's second worst.
The former Socceroos' defender is currently in his second stint in charge of the Jets having had his spell broken up by two years in Canberra with the Australian Institute of Sport. His major coaching achievement to date is taking the Jets to the A-League title in 2007-8, a season where he was named the league's coach of the year.
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