A-League: Jets set to kick-off restart with F3 derby

WAITING GAME: Newcastle Jets coach Carl Robinson faces 14 days in isolation on his return from Canada to Australia. Picture: Simone De Peak

NEWCASTLE Jets could restart the A-League season with a derby against bitter foes Central Coast at McDonald Jones Stadium.

A-League clubs will return to training on June 15, with the competition set to resume on July 18.

The players agreed to a new pay deal on Thursday, guaranteeing all existing contracts will continue for an extra three months.

The majority of the 32 games, including finals, will be played at a hub in Sydney over a 36-day period, with the grand final flagged for August 22.

The relaunch is yet to be signed off by broadcaster Fox Sports, who are seeking to renegotiate the final three years of their $57 million a year contract.

Talks between Football Federation Australia and Fox Sports are ongoing.

In the meantime, clubs are working towards a July 18 kick-off.

The Jets, who were three points outside the top six when the competition was suspended on March 24, have games against the Mariners, Wellington, Sydney and Western United remaining.

"We have not seen a draft draw yet but us playing the Mariners first up has been mentioned," Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna told the Herald. "Central Coast Stadium is being used for rugby league. Rather than go down to Sydney, playing up here is an option. It would be behind closed doors, but it's still a derby."

Under the proposal, the Jets, Sydney, Western Sydney and the Mariners would all remain in their home bases and commute to and from games, while the interstate teams would be housed in hotels around Sydney.

Most of the games will be played at Jubilee Stadium, Bankwest Stadium and possibly WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

Victorian teams would complete fixtures against each other in Melbourne before moving to NSW.

Wellington will have to serve a two-week term in isolation, but will be able to train together in that period.

Jets coach Carl Robinson (Canada), assistants Kenny Miller (Scotland) and Darren Bazeley (New Zealand) and midfielder Joe Ledley (Wales) will also have to spend 14 days in quarantine on arrival back in Australia.

"We are working with the FFA in regards to getting the coaches and Joe back," McKinna said. "The FFA are dealing with the appropriate authorities on behalf of all the clubs. Carl and Kenny are looking to bring their family out which complicates things a wee bit, but we are working through it. With the quarantine, they may miss the first few days of training. If that's the case, we have Craig Deans who can run things initially. "

Jets players have been following programs since the league was shut down.

"The feedback from Brice Johnson (strength and conditioning coach) is that the guys have been first class in terms of their programs," McKinna said. "They will do some testing in the first couple of days back. Obviously everyone won't be at the exact same level."

As well as testing, players will attend a workshop on protocols and procedures around COVID-19.

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