Departed Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold apologised to fans for leaving the A-League in the manner he did.
Arnold suddenly quit the defending champion last week to sign a two-year deal with J League club Vegalta Sendai, making him the first Australian-born coach in top-flight football in Asia.
The 50-year-old, who returned from a five-day trip to Japan on Tuesday, said it all happened in the space of 24 hours.
“It’s very sad to leave the Mariners and I apologise to the supporters and everyone for the way I left because it happened so quickly,” Arnold said.
“I will always cherish this club enormously. I will be back one day. I just felt that the timing of this move was perfect.
“I went over there for five days and I could feel the intensity coming back. I could feel the desire of wanting to be successful and prove myself – again – overseas.”
Arnold said while he would have been very happy to see out his three-year contract – which included a clause to leave for an overseas posting – he needed a new challenge after last season’s grand final triumph.
The ex-Socceroos mentor is yet to speak to his players about the move, trying not to distract them from Saturday’s clash with Perth Glory.
Arnold has pledged to watch every one of the Mariners’ home matches over the next seven weeks before he moves to Sendai, and has offered his support to successor Phil Moss and Central Coast’s National Youth League coach Patrick Zwaanswijk.
Source: AAP
