He was 10 minutes late, but hey, that's Lawrie!

Last time I'd spoken in person to McKinna he was then the mayor of Gosford and doing a fine job of it. Despite being as popular on the Central Coast as Santa (he really was) the lure of being involved with football again was always there.

"It's in my blood," he said. "I enjoyed my time on council and I think I made a good go of it. It was a challenge at times."

It certainly was.

After running, then elected for Gosford council in 2012, Lawrie found himself voted in as mayor in his very first council meeting.

"I was shitting myself. I didn't even know the procedure on how to chair the meeting," he said.

But I acquitted myself well over time. There's so many personalities in a council chamber, so many egos. Bit like a football club really. That's why I was never daunted. I knew what I was in for. Running a tight ship is so important and sometimes expenditure can spiral out of control."

The experience seems to have served him well.

Running a tight ship, working with strong-willed people and making tough decisions are already evident within months of returning to the game he loves.

It's not his first time in football administration. He worked as general manager of football for the Central Coast Mariners after his time as coach.

But his short time with the Jets hasn't been smooth sailing.

On the eve of an A-League season, the removal of Newcastle coach Scott Miller didn't go down well with a supporter base that's had to endure season after season of watching their club turn into a basket case on and off the field and still feeling the raw wounds of the reign under former club owner Nathan Tinkler.

It came to a head on the club's pre-season tour of China when the relationship of Miller and his assistant Luciano Trani broke down.

The coach's demands to the club's Chinese owner Martin Lee, who encouraged the situation to be sorted out quickly, was his downfall in the end.

Chinese businessmen aren't ones to be dictated to... and the gaffer ultimately got the chop!

"That was unfortunate but it was a decision that had to be made. The timing was terrible I know. Scott was his own man but when you stand up to the people who pay your wage, it's always risky business."

It had McKinna pleading with fans to stay loyal, he even stated he'd call every season ticket holder personally in a bid to win the disgruntled back.

I know he did this, as my good friend's father got a call out of the blue by the CEO within days of the decision.

Now another coach, Mark Jones has been appointed.

Another rookie coach.

Another risk?

Another campaign without finals football perhaps?

"Look, he's been at many clubs as an assistant and now it's time for him to show what he can do. The players have adapted well to his plans. I know he can do the job."

Is just making the finals the goal?

"This year, yes. That would be a big step- but one that can be achieved. Long term is Asian Champions League football- but we need to walk before we can run-we're still crawling at the moment."

As we walk back to the Jets office I notice there's club staff going in and out, carrying boxes.

"When I got here I realised the administration had the task of selling club merchandise. We've decided to contract it out to a firm and let us get on with running a football club.

"It might seem like a little thing- but it is "little things" like that which help a club get on with concentrating on the big achievements."

Let's hope for the long suffering Jets fans those big achievements are on the way.

Michael Cain is a sports journalist for TEN Eyewitness News, Sydney.