Walmsley set to re-sign as Mariners coach

As the door officially closes on Central Coast's A-League campaign another has opened for Tony Walmsley, with the first-year coach set to be given a new contract.

It's understood Walmsley is poised to re-sign for next season, despite a sorry debut campaign heading on a one-way street towards the club's first wooden spoon.

But the 49-year-old's retention is hardly surprising, given his mandate from club management was to bring back the fans with entertaining football while developing his young squad - not bring in results.

The Mariners have a measly three wins this season to break up their 16 losses and three draws, and have conceded an incredible 52 goals - by far the competition's most.

Though their dead-last position on the table has effectively ruled them out of the playoffs anyway, Sunday's 2-0 loss to Melbourne Victory in Gosford means a finals berth is now a mathematical impossibility.

Despite playing their best attacking combination yet, the hosts barely tested the defending champions - Victory custodian Danny Vukovic did not have to make a single save.

After standout winger Mitch Austin's first-half exit through injury, proceedings went from bad to worse when defender Mickey Neill earned his second yellow card three minutes after the break for a tackle on Jai Ingham.

It was the Mariners' seventh red card this season, a league-high record miles ahead of second-worst offenders Perth (four).

Walmsley admitted Neill should have been more diligent after his booking early in the game, but he disagreed with his sending off.

"I don't think there was a red card in that game," he said.

"And for me, far too many yellows (seven).

"I can't defend the disciplinary record we've got, but keep your cards in your pocket."

Walmsley said Austin had been suffering from some sort of rib cartilage issue in his back.

"It flared up on Saturday, he came off the training pitch and was doubtful before the game," he said.

"Painkilling injections seemed to work, but a half hour in he wasn't fit to continue so we had to take him off."

Walmsley was appointed head coach last April, having been club technical director before taking over as acting coach after Phil Moss was sacked in early March.

Since pre-season he has cut ties with a string of players as part of a personnel overhaul.