THE Newcastle Jets have offered a multi-year deal to Graham Arnold to become their head coach, but Sydney FC and the New Zealand national team are also vying for the A-League winner’s signature. The Jets yesterday sacked long-time assistant coach Craig Deans, goalkeeping mentor Bob Catlin and strength and conditioning coach Karl Dodd, adding to speculation the club is set to appoint someone other than interim coach Clayton Zane. It is understood that, if Arnold takes the job, his staff could include Zane as assistant, former Socceroo Zeljko Kalac as goalkeeping coach and Andrew Clarke as performance manager. The Herald revealed on Wednesday that Arnold was in Newcastle on Tuesday meeting with Jets officials. The former Central Coast Mariners and Socceroos boss has become the hottest commodity on the coaching market since parting ways with J-League club Vegalta Sendai three months into a two-year deal. It is understood Arnold has met with Jets officials on another occasion and is due to speak with New Zealand Football next week about the All Whites position. There has been speculation the Jets would allow Arnold to coach the All Whites while coaching Newcastle. Arnold is the favourite for the vacant Sydney FC job, but the Sky Blues are yet to table an official offer. Deans could not be contacted for comment yesterday but is understood to be disappointed to have been sacked and with the manner of his dismissal. Jets CEO Robbie Middleby did not reply to a text message from the Herald last night but said on the club’s website: ‘‘We thank Craig, Bob and Karl for their commitment and hard work during their time with the club. All have played an important role in the development of our team and players and we wish them all the best for their future careers.’’ Deans’s exit ends a decade-long association with Newcastle. The 39-year-old was born in Perth and played for the Glory and Carlton before joining Newcastle United for the final year of the National Soccer League. The former centre half was a foundation member of the Jets, but his A-League career ended two games into the new competition due to a nerve condition known as foot drop. He then worked in football operations at the Jets and was appointed as the inaugural youth team coach in 2008. Popular with the players, Deans was thrust into the top job as a caretaker in October 2011 when Branko Culina was sacked by Nathan Tinkler just before the season kicked off. He led the Jets briefly before Gary van Egmond was appointed but slipped down the pecking order when van Egmond was sacked in January. Instead of being promoted again to the top job as caretaker, Deans was leapfrogged by youth team boss Zane and shared the assistant coaching role with Michael Bridges.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-3ZMaZUzN3dKuM6vrzTJmtN/904f3647-5ef0-4f79-8656-9256a1854ac7.JPG/r5_0_2042_1151_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg