Dean Heffernan will lead the Central Coast Mariners women’s side into the new A-Leagues season, their first under the new ownership of Sydney-based Holman Barnes Group.

It means a return ‘home’ for Heffernan, who spent five seasons with the Mariners as a foundation player from 2005. He started their first ever A-League fixture in the August of that year and that season’s final, and later played every minute of their maiden Asian campaign in 2009. He also won his two Socceroos caps while at the club.

He has previous managerial experience at the level, leading Western Sydney Wanderers for two seasons from 2019-2021 which included a semi-final appearance.

‘It’s been a little bit surreal, and I’m just really happy to get an opportunity to come back to the Mariners,’ Heffernan told Box2Box.

‘Obviously, I spent that time from 2005-10 here; I met my wife here, my kids love the football club. We’ve supported the club for a long time.

‘We had a period where we moved to Sydney for a little bit, but the Central Coast is our home. To be able to represent the club as a player and now as a coach – I couldn’t be happier or prouder.’

Things may again look sunny in Gosford, but as recently as five weeks ago there was no guarantee of the side’s future.
Revived in 2023/24 after a near-fifteen-year absence from competition, the Mariners’ women bought straight into the men’s habit defying the odds and lifted the Championship in their second season back.

But too like the men’s side, they’ve also been beset by ownership instability. Total Soccer Growth Holdings – majority owners of Queen’s Park Rangers – bought the men’s side and academy in June but were not interested in the full package deal, meaning the women’s license was cut adrift as it’s own entity – an unpleasant first for Australian football.

Enter Holman Barnes Group, announced as operators in early August. Named in honour of Rugby League legends Keith Holman and Keith Barnes, the company holds 90% of Wests Tigers. In recent times they’ve aided APIA Leichhardt’s entry into the Australian Championship, and now further their football investment.

‘It’s unchartered territory to have separate ownership between a men’s and women’s team… but one of the key parts of the purchase was to keep the club on the Central Coast, which is super important’, said Heffernan.

‘They’ve been huge believers in keeping it as a community, family club, and making sure one of the main remits of us as a club is that we really engage with the community.

‘One of the things we did really well under Lawrie McKinna in those first five years was engage; we were out every Tuesday night putting on coaching clinics, signing sessions, having barbecues with [local] players. That’s something that’s important to me as a coach, to HBG, and Matteo [Maiorana], our director.

‘We’re building towards something more sustainable now: letting players on the Coast know there’s a pathway for success for young girls… to let them know it is possible for them to be a professional footballer in their hometown.’

Heffernan will be assisted by another former Mariner in Oli Bozanic, who stays at the club after holding the same role under Kory Babbington last season. Despite the off-season hold up – and significant departure of Isabel Gomez – they’re confident of a strong showing from the off.

‘The start date for all players’ contracts are September 15th, and that’s the date we’re going from as well. We feel like a four or five-week lead into Round One is enough for us to be able to implement what we want to do, the type of football we want to play, and how we can beat teams.’