In the week of their opening Hyundai A-League match for the 2009/2010 season, the Newcastle Jets have today confirmed their first signings for the upcoming National Youth League (NYL) competition.
In the week of their opening Hyundai A-League match for the 2009/2010 season, the Newcastle Jets have today confirmed their first signings for the upcoming National Youth League (NYL) competition.
The Jets finished the inaugural season of the NYL in seventh position, and coach Craig Deans is intent on improving his side-s results this season. No players from last season-s squad were guaranteed retention, with every player having to go through a series of trials over the past few weeks.
Players from last season-s squad such as Jesse Pinto, Jarrad Ross, Taylor Regan, Adrian Karakolevski, Fabian Iacovelli and Jon Griffiths have all earned their spots on the 16-man roster. In total, nine players have signed contracts to date but the squad has all but been settled.
Newcomers to have signed deals for the forthcoming season include striker Mirjan Pavlovic from the West Sydney Berries, former-AIS goalkeeper Robbie Kolak and ex-Northern Tigers midfielder Matt Sim.
Deans today said that the injection of fresh faces into his young side was imperative.
“It was important for us to go through the recruitment process from scratch this season in order to identify and select the appropriate players for the Youth League squad this season,” Deans said.
“Last season was disappointing in terms of results for us, but we did have a number of young players make the move into the Hyundai A-League and in terms of player development that was a pleasing aspect.”
“We-ll look to have another relatively young squad this season and I-m definitely looking for the players to develop further and progress as footballers as the season goes.”
“As a club we have a very good record of nurturing young talent, and with the group of young players that we are getting together for this National Youth League season, we should see the youth development processes that we have in place continue for some time,” explained Deans.
