Central Coast Mariners were four minutes away from last season’s A-League Championship, before seeing it slip through their grasp. Having now suffered defeat in three Grand Finals, the Mariners are desperately looking for redemption.

Nestled on the beautiful Central Coast of New South Wales, the Mariners are the type of club every recently established football team aspires to be. Well run, with good community engagement and a vibrant fans group, the Central Coast has a lot to be excited about.

Holding a two goal lead with only minutes left in extra time, the Mariners were well on their way to winning last year’s Grand Final. A team that had previously been defeated twice on the A-League’s big day, the side were desperate to break their hoodoo and claim the Championship.

But it was not to be. A quick fire double from Brisbane Roar sent the game to penalties, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Speaking to players during the Mariners’ pre-season camp in Canberra, several singled out their desire to move on from the loss and look to the future. While such a heartbreaking defeat may be difficult to move on from, the club is certainly well set-up to challenge for another shot at glory.

With an impressive batch of young talent in both the first team and youth squad, including the likes of Mustafa Amini and Bernie Ibini-Isei, the Mariners have been hailed for their development system. Four Central Coast starlets were in the Young Socceroos side that made the trip to Colombia for the Youth World Cup, and it’s a trend that looks likely to continue.

The club is pouring money into the Mariners’ Centre of Excellence, which will help the club continue to turn out highly rated youngsters. With the centre expected to cost around $36 million, a large sum in Australian football, the club will be keen for it to pay off.

Central Coast will also have a shot at continental glory this season, with entry into the Asian Champions League via their runners-up position last campaign. Adelaide United discovered several years ago how lucrative success in the competition could be, and the Mariners will be hoping to emulate United’s success.

But before the new season started, the rumour mill started to rumble with suggestions that not all was rosy on the Central Coast. Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull has done a stellar job in running the club, but concerns were raised about its financial position and long term stability.

With a smaller potential fan base than the big city clubs, and without the commercial pulling power that the likes of Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC have managed to harness, the Mariners may need foreign investment to remain viable.

A successful A-League season would certainly ease the pressure on Turnbull for the moment. But hopes of a dream start to the campaign were quickly dashed, losing one-nil in a tight Grand Final replay in round one. From there, the Mariners were lucky to scrape a draw at home against Gold Coast United, before being downed by local rivals Newcastle in the F3 Derby.

One point from the first three games certainly wasn’t the start the Mariners were hoping for in their quest for Grand Final redemption. With a run of tricky games approaching, things could have quickly gone from bad to worse.

Thankfully for the Yellow Army, strikers Matt Simon and Bernie Ibni-Isei found their scoring boots, both netting in a two-one win against the Perth Glory the following week.

Next up was a trip across the Tasman to face the Wellington Phoenix, a notoriously difficult away trip. Once again, Simon and Ibini-Isei netted in another two-one win, and suddenly things were looking better.

Last weekend Harry Kewell and co were in town, and the Mariners needed a win over Melbourne Victory to continue their surge up the table. In a tight clash, the Central Coast probably had the edge, but failed to convert the opportunities and the encounter ended scoreless. In one chance, the ball appeared to be destined for the back of the net, before it was cleared off the line by the narrowest of margins.

This Saturday the Mariners head to Sydney to take on the Sky Blues, knowing a win could potentially move them into the top four. With a number of very winnable games coming up, three points could set the Central Coast up for an extended run towards the top of the table.

A Grand Final trophy this season would be of huge significance to the club, both on and off the field. Faced with losing starlet Amini to Borussia Dortmund at the end of this campaign, and with rumours Ibini-Isei could also be the target of bigger clubs, redemption would be a fitting goodbye to the youngsters.

While the Mariners may never be a big enough club to attract and hold on to the likes of Kewell or Brett Emerton, a successful season this year could help further establish the club. It would also ease pressure on Turnbull, especially if he can bring in foreign investment.

Without being disrespectful to the side, following in the footsteps of a number of South American clubs could be the way to go. A number of stable and successful teams in Brazil and Argentina nurture young talent before selling them to Europe for a huge profit, while holding on to a core of more experienced players.

This model values continuity while simultaneously providing a conveyor belt of future stars and a steady cash flow. Already pouring money into youth development, the club seems to be moving in the right direction.

This can give the Mariners the best of both worlds – the ability to compete at the top level, and the financial stability any club needs in the still growing A-League. If Arnold can guide his charges to the competition pinnacle, secure the title and then challenge in Asia, the future will be bright for the Central Coast Mariners.