Thu 25th Jan 2007

Central Coast Mariners FC have confirmed that defenders Wayne O’Sullivan and Vuko Tomasevic and mid-fielder Noel Spencer have not been offered new contracts for the 2007/08 season and have been granted permission to speak with other clubs with a view to securing new deals elsewhere.

Mariners Executive Chairman, Lyall Gorman, paid tribute to the trio, saying that they had each played a huge part in continuing the strong establishment of the club both on and off the field.

“Wayne, Noel and Vuko are players who have made a significant contribution to developing our club and we thank them for what they have done here, as well as wishing them well for the future,” Gorman said.

Spencer’s Mariners career saw the Sydney-born midfielder captain the Central Coast to four domestic Grand Final appearances – including the inaugural Hyundai A-League showpiece at Aussie Stadium in March 2006.

Spencer departs the Central Coast as the club’s second highest capped player and equal fourth most prolific goal scorer, having notched 55 appearances and 7 goals in all competitive matches spanning two seasons in yellow and navy.

O’Sullivan, like Spencer, was one of the cornerstone members of the Mariners’ 2005/06 Grand Final charge, starting all but three of the Mariners’ Hyundai A-League matches in season one and netting one regular season goal.

O’Sullivan recorded 47 competitive appearances for the Central Coast over two seasons – making the former Irish youth international the Mariners’ equal sixth highest capped player of all time.

Tomasevic was one of coach Lawrie McKinna’s five new signings for the 2006/07 Hyundai A-League season, having joined the Mariners via NSW Premier League heavyweights the Marconi Stallions.

Tomasevic started each of the Mariners 2006 Pre-Season Cup matches and made eleven Hyundai A-League appearances.

"We are doing all that we can to ensure that we are a force to be reckoned with next season, and an obvious part of this is reviewing our playing roster and making what we feel to be necessary adjustments," said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna. "We have identified areas of our squad that need improvement and areas where we are perhaps overstocked”.

“Unfortunately in the world of professional football, releasing existing players is part of that process.”

"Sully, Spenny and Vuko have made tremendous contributions to our club during their time here and I’d like to wish them all the best with their future football endeavours," said McKinna.