Moss eyes three points as perfect farewell gift

Moss, who has been at Manly United since the age of 10, this week signed a three-year deal with A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners as Graham Arnold?s assistant coach and will depart Cromer Park after Sunday?s game.
The move confirms speculation that has been swirling around football circles since Arnold took over the Mariners earlier this year.
The pair worked together at Northern Spirit in the old NSL and then again with the Olyroos as they successfully qualified for the Beijing Olympics.
?First and foremost I want to win Sunday?s game because it doesn?t sit well with me to see Manly United so low on the table,? Moss said.
?Sure there will be emotion attached to Sunday?s game because I have been here a long time, I bleed Manly United blood and the players and I have been through a lot together.
?But I want to part company with my players on a winning note and that is what we are all focussed on.
?I announced my departure to the players at training on Thursday night and that is the last time we will talk about it until after fulltime on Sunday.?
Moss said he owed a great debt of gratitude to all involved with Manly United and the Manly-Warringah Football Association after eight seasons as the club?s head coach and the association?s Director of Coaching & Youth Development.
?A coach could not wish for a better environment to do their apprenticeship in than Cromer Park,? Moss said.
?The people connected with the club and the association are first class and are genuinely interested only in what?s best for the game and the players.
?We do it tough financially every year but everyone sticks together and does the best they can to ensure we stay at the forefront of NSW football.
?I will be forever indebted to MUFC and MWFA and I never would have thought eight years ago that the two organisations would be where they are today.
?We can all be very proud of what we have achieved together and I am confident I?m leaving the place in a stronger state than when I became involved as head coach.?
Moss said the opportunity at the Mariners was far too good to pass up.
?I?ll be working in a fulltime environment at what I believe is the most stable and professional club in the A-League,? Moss said.
?I will be working under the best coach Australia has produced in the modern era and I will learn bucket loads from ?Arnie?.
?And I?ve worked with quite a few of the Mariners players before so it?s just a perfect fit for me. It?s a massive challenge and I?m looking forward to it.?
Mariners executive chairman Lyall Gorman welcomed the appointment of Moss.
?We?re delighted to welcome Phil to the club,? Gorman said.
?Phil has done an exceptional job during his time coaching in the NSW Premier League and has a strong pre-existing relationship with both Graham (Arnold) and (Assistant Coach) Tony Walmsley, and we are certain he will become an integral part of one of the A-League?s most successful coaching staffs.?
Moss came through the ranks at Manly United before making his first grade debut at 17, and enjoyed a season at the Central Coast Coasties in 1997, ironically alongside his new colleague, in Mariners Strength and Conditioning Coach Andrew Clark.
Moss then made his mark in the old National Soccer League under Arnold as a defender cum midfielder at Northern Spirit via a short spell at Eastern Suburbs, before ultimately returning to his old stomping ground.
Importantly, Moss said he believes his appointment is a win for the state league coaches.
?I?m very grateful to Arnie for the faith he?s shown in plucking me out of the State League.
?There?s a lot of talk of ex-Socceroos coming back from overseas and being fast-tracked into (coaching) jobs which is fantastic, but I would like to think this appointment is a win for the ex-NSL players who have done the hard yards in the local leagues,? said Moss.
?There are some excellent coaches in the NSWPL who deserve more recognition for the work they do.?
Sunday?s game against Bansktown is shaping up as a cracker with the hosts sitting just one point ahead of their visitors at the foot of the table.
It will be a case of two teams leaving nothing in the sheds and going all out for the three points.
?There is so much to play for because we are only five points adrift of fifth spot so a couple of wins could turn the whole season around,? Moss said.
?The players needn?t use my departure as motivation but more the fact we need three points and Craig Midgley is taking over on Monday so they should be out to impress him.
?Bankstown is a quality side and shouldn?t be where they are but we have a few ideas on how to exploit them.?
Kick off at Cromer Park is 3pm, following the Grade 20s at 1pm.