A press conference this afternoon has confirmed the former Sydney FC coach and current Newcastle Jets technical director will take over the vacant coaching role after Gary van Egmond's sudden departure at the weekend.

Culina is understood to have accepted a two year deal despite playing down expectations he would take the job.

He said just yesterday that he was still bitter over his experience at Sydney FC where he was unceremoniously dumped following a management takeover and a disappointing start to the 2007/8 season.

"There is an old saying, `once a coach always a coach' and that's still a little bit true but I've never really thought about it (the Newcastle job) much," Culina told AAP.

"It's not to say that I don't want to coach, but not necessarily in Australia and I've still probably got a bitter feeling about it after the Sydney episode.

"It is not something that I have been thinking about, it's not something where I'll be putting my hand up for and at the moment, I think the club is still trying to come to grips with the fact Gary has left so suddenly.

"People are entitled to put up names ... but people are just jumping to conclusions."

But he admitted: "In life you never rule anything out."

 

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