Hutchinson has been with the Mariners as both a player and coach since the club’s inception and was touted as a future head coach – but Okon moved swiftly to exit him from the club.

The club said today it had reached a mutual agreement with the former club legend turned assistant coach.

He was at the Central Coast Mariners for an incredible 12 years that saw the Morwell Pegasus junior make 228 A-League appearances headlined by captaining the Yellow & Navy to its maiden Championship in 2013.

“I have been really happy and grateful to be a part of the Central Coast Mariners for the past 12 years, it’s something I’ll treasure for a long time and I’m just looking forward to the next chapter and where it takes me,” Hutchinson said.

“The club needs to move forward and all I want is what’s best for the club and hopefully as a club we can move up the ladder and have a more successful season.

“If we stay on the Coast I will come to all of the Mariners games, my son is a massive Mariners fan and football is a massive part of my life so of course I will come and watch the Mariners play.

“But whether I stay on the Coast or not will be based on the next chapter of the life of a football coach that hopefully continues and I look forward to the next step in that journey.

“I will be able to take a bit of a break, spend the weekend with my family which is something that I haven’t done in a long time, we will reassess and go from there.

“I’ve been grateful for the opportunities that this club has given me as a player for 10 years then as a coach for a season and a bit.

“The Members & fans have been incredible, to see their smiling faces after games and after we won the Grand Final has been the pinnacle of my career.

“I just want people to remember the good times, not the bad times. I’ve always loved the fans – even the ones that have given me stick and I look forward to seeing the club move up the ladder.”