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The past few weeks have brought news of signings, departures and extended contracts, but it’s also been a time of reflection and hard work.
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“It’s a privilege to be worthy of another contract and I am thrilled to be on the Central Coast for an additional two seasons, full credit to Mossy’s belief in me,” Neill said.
"I certainly won’t play this season but I intend to be back training with the team before the end of the season to be in full fitness for 2015/16."
Despite having been out of action for quite some time now due to injury, Neill remains a valuable contribution to the team. Similarly as an A-League newbie, Poscoliero has also proven himself as up to the challenge.
“Posco was the stand out centre back of the state league last year and Blacktown won that, full credit to Blacktown for the hard work they put into developing Jacob’s game,” Moss said of Poscoliero.
"He’s stepped up to this level and his first few performances warranted him selection over established Mariners first team players."
However, with the departure of lead striker Mitchell Duke to J-League team Shimizu S-Pulse effective immediately and the upcoming departure of captain John Hutchinson at the end of the season, everyone will be waiting to see if the Mariners manage to keep themselves together.
As it is, the Mariners are holding onto the A-League by a thread, but Hutchinson’s departure will test the durability of the club’s fabric, with many describing him as the thread that holds the team together.
“Hutch is an important member of our squad in the dressing room, on the training pitch and in the community," Moss said
"He’s a fantastic captain, a great leader and a rock solid midfielder who has a lot more quality than what people give him credit for."
As a foundation player of the A-League and veteran of the club, the loss of Hutchinson will be felt both on and off the field, but the good news is that he is looking to stay with the Mariners in a behind-the-scenes capacity.
“I’m currently in discussions with the club to see if there will be a future role for me; I am a fully qualified B licence coach and will be taking my A licence in the near future," Hutchinson said.
"Hopefully I can stay on in a working capacity with the Mariners, I obviously want to stay with the club."
The club and players are certainly in a different state of being than they were this time last year, when they had their captain and they were on the top of the table.
While the Mariners managed to come from behind last weekend to claim a 2-1 victory over Adelaide United, that sort of display of Mariners grit has seldom appeared this season.
The win – their third this season – can be viewed as a recovery from their humiliating 5-1 loss at home against Sydney FC on the 24th of January, but it’s still a ways off from making it to the finals.
As the eighth-placed Mariners face seventh-placed Brisbane Roar this Friday evening, a win would ensure they move up a spot on the ladder and move a step closer to the finals.