MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Central Coast Mariners will bid to become the first team to win three A-League titles in succession as Australia's top flight lurches into a 20th season this weekend with a new franchise and old problems.
The Mark Jackson-coached Mariners kept the good times rolling in sleepy Gosford last season, becoming the third team to win back-to-back, joining Brisbane Roar (2011-12) and glamour side Sydney FC (2019-20).
Jackson, who succeeded Nick Montgomery after the former Mariners boss left after the 2023 title, will have his work cut out to match the heights of last term following an exodus of top players.
While luring favourite son and former Australia defender Trent Sainsbury back after 10 years, the Mariners said farewell to Max Balard, Jacob Farrell and playmaker Josh Nisbet, the Johnny Warren medallist as the league's MVP last season.
The Mariners' resilience will face an immediate test in Friday's season-opener when they host four-times champions Melbourne Victory, the team they beat 3-1 in the title-deciding Grand Final in May.
But the Mariners are not the only side that have battled to shore up their list.
The league's 20th anniversary celebrations have been dampened by cost-cutting, with administrators slashing annual distributions to clubs from A$2 million ($1.34 million) to A$530,000 to cover mounting losses in recent years.
That has put a greater burden on clubs to cover the minimum threshold of A$2.25 million in the salary cap, forcing managers to do more with less.
Though funding has dwindled, the league is expanding to 13 teams with the addition of Auckland FC, adding a second New Zealand side to the competition with Wellington Phoenix.
Backed by billionaire Bill Foley, Auckland's Black Knights have recruited Sydney FC's former championship-winning coach Steve Corica and nabbed one of the league's best goalkeepers in ex-Phoenix stopper, Alex Paulsen.
With former Japan defender Hiroki Sakai captaining the side, Auckland fans will hope their team can emulate the success of Foley's National Hockey League team Vegas Golden Knights who reached the 2018 Stanley Cup finals in their first season.
Sakai is one of a number of international marquee players who league bosses hope will light up the competition during a time of austerity.
Sydney-based fans have the biggest names in their midst, with former Juventus and Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa joining Sydney FC and Spanish, World Cup-winning midfielder Juan Mata landing at Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Victory will bid for a record-equalling fifth title under new coach Patrick Kisnorbo who replaced Tony Popovic following the former boss's fifth Grand Final disappointment.
Having coached Victory's bitter rivals Melbourne City to their first A-League title in 2021, Kisnorbo's appointment has alienated fans on both sides.
With Victory's large and passionate fan-base unlikely to accept anything less than a Grand Final, the former Socceroos defender will be under pressure to deliver immediate success.
($1 = 1.4932 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
