Okon is expected to replace sacked coach Tony Walmsley who lasted 18 months in the job and led the Mariners to their worst season in 2015/16.

Former A-League coaches Ricki Herbert (Wellington Phoenix) and Mike Mulvey (Brisbane Roar) were among a long list of tacticians in the mix for the job.

But it is understood the 44-year-old will link up with the team as early as next week. 

Okon was an assistant coach to Miron Bleiberg at Gold Coast United and is currently the U20 national team coach.

His experience with young players will be seen as a huge plus by a club forced to blood a string of youngsters to fit within budget constraints.

The new coach will have the difficult task of shaping last season’s wooden spooners into a competitive unit with just the minimum salarycap spend.

The club's majority shareholder Mike Charlesworth has indicated there will be no immediate end to the belt tightening for the Gosford outfit.

The delay in sacking previous coach, Tony Walmsley, also means that most of the recruiting has been completed, further complicating the task.

Okon, a former Marconi Stallions star, enjoyed a successful overseas playing career before turning to coaching.

After lining up for clubs in Belgium, Italy and England, the midfielder returned to Australia and played one season in the A-League, for the Newcastle Jets in 2006/07, before hanging up the boots.