Mark Rooke urging Western's best to make themselves available for Mariners' 2019 campaign

That’s the Beatles-inspired message from Mark Rooke, the man who will take over as Western NSW Mariners FC’s coach for season 2019.

A passionate former Bathurst ‘75 State League captain-coach, Rooke’s mentored a number of younger Mariners outfits and is delighted to get the chance to guide the senior side, he takes over from Andrew Fearnley.

But even before he’s begun, Rooke knows the pressure’s on.

Nest season the Mariners will face their toughest battle yet to avoid relegation and because of that Rooke is urging the central west’s best to make themselves available for the side.

“It’s going to be hard next year because the bottom five teams go down, they are restructuring the league … that’s difficult but I honestly believe there are good enough players out here, we’ve just got to get them on the field,” he said.

“We need to get them out of local football back into [state level] football, whether they’re from Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Parkes, Mudgee, Forbes it doesn’t matter, we just need to get the best players on the park for the Western Mariners.

“I don’t want people thinking ‘I don’t know if I can’, come and try, put your hand up and have a go – we can make a judgement from there.”

That’s not a slight on the Mariners’ 2018 squad, far from it. Rooke says he wants to retain those players, but is desperate to add much-needed depth.

If he can do that, he has faith that the Mariners can find the much-coveted consistency they didn’t have this year, and avoid relegation.

“I want to try and help turn things around. To be honest it is a really difficult comp we are in, there are some really good players, really good teams, so I’m aware of the enormity of the job,” he said.

“Over the years in the competition we’ve always had periods where we’ve been really good, it’s that consistency that’s lacking. On our day we’ve been as good as every other team … but the next week we’ll turn around and get beaten by the team that’s down near the bottom.

“If we can get those players, get their head right and get them on the field at the one time, then yes, there is every chance we can push on to play semi-final football. That’s where I want to be.”

The Mariners will commence training on Sunday afternoon at Orange’s Jack Brabham Park from 3pm, they’ll split training between that venue and Bathurst.