Right now, they’re all fielding expressions of interests from various A-League clubs while waiting to hear about Gold Coast - and Mulvey’s - future.

Mulvey too has caught the eye. And with loyalty from his players, who’s to say a few wouldn’t join him at another A-League club?

Like Kenny Lowe in Perth and Arthur Papas in Newcastle – hidden gems on the coaching scene with bright futures – Mulvey combines his technical vision with a tactical nous.

“I believe in a possession-based, attacking mindset," he said. "I like to play with wingers and overlapping full-backs. Centre backs wide, midfield pushes on and somebody come out and pick the ball up.

“There’s quality there in the group too and we tried to play a possession based game. It was unrealistic for us to press high and do things I’d really like to do on a regular basis because we had very few experienced players.”

But perhaps most importantly – and this is what all the players will say at Gold Coast – his man management skills were key in the team’s renaissance during their troubled times off the park.

Little wonder many of the players had come through with Mulvey in the youth team and the QAS – where he developed many of his coaching ideas.

In fact, over 11 years at the QAS he was able to tap into great coaches such as Wayne Bennett and champion athletes such as Susie O’Neill.

He said this has played a key role in helping him become the coach his is.

Gold Coast trained at Carrara this week – their final sessions as a group...perhaps for ever.

“There are a lot of emotions. There’s anger because they’re not sure what is happening and why is this falling apart?” said Mulvey.

“The mood’s been fantastic all this time. It is emotional because some were moving on.

“I’ve been with some of them for five years, I had some of them at the QAS, like Mitch Cooper who I had at the QAS when he was 14.”

“We talked about the friendships you gain over a football career which last you for life and they should never forget that.

“But also go on and make a good career for themselves. Because if they rest on their laurels they’ll be yesterday’s news. So they need to go out and do it all again.

“As a coach you’re part philosopher, part counsellor."

The team has a week off. In this timeframe, the players are expecting to be told whether Gold Coast will continue under new owners.

Mulvey described himself as a career coach. It would be a shame if because of a lack of coaching opportunities in the A-League he was forced to look overseas – just like the talented former Reds assistant coach Phil Stubbins who recently moved to Thai club Insee.

The likes of Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory could do a lot worse than to look at Mulvey.

He took his chance when it came along and has impressed many judges.

He added: “The opportunity came in awkward and difficult circumstances at a strange time but I’m quite happy with my contribution and I hope my role has helped develop these young players into professionals.

“Hopefully I can work in the A-League and cross paths with them in the future… if not I’ll bide my time and look for opportunities. That’s what anyone needs.

“It gives me great pride to have been part of something special with a special group of people.

"It just goes to prove what can happen if you give youth a chance."