While admitting that the Mariners had a disappointing 06/07 season, McKinna still believes the Mariners do not get the respect they deserve.

“We’re not ones to make excuses,” he says.

“We just go about our business. We played Melbourne Victory on New Year’s Eve with nine senior players missing.

"We didn’t go on about it, but when some of the other teams have two or three boys missing it’s a major crisis. We don’t dramatise things like other people do."

He adds: "Some think that’s good and some think that’s bad but if you look over two years, the only final we weren’t in was the Grand Final last season.

“We’ve been in every other final... the Pre-Season Cup twice, the [final to get to the] World Club Championship and the first Grand Final.

"So we’re probably one of the most consistent teams although last year we fell away in the last few weeks because we couldn’t score goals.”

The Mariners are currently sitting at the top of Group B in the current Pre-Season Cup after a draw with Queensland and a convincing win over Wellington. A fifth grand final is well within grasp.

“The Pre-Season Cup - I want to win it," he insists.

"Some coaches come out and say they don’t care about it but have you ever known anybody who’s walked out on the park and not wanted to win the game?

"If we can win it, fantastic - but if not, we’ll do our best."

While McKinna says the lack of respect is not an issue as far as the club is concerned, he does feel for his players.

He believes they’re overlooked simply because they don’t possess flashy auras like some of the league’s foreign stars.

“Some of our individuals don’t get the recognition they deserve like Wilko [Alex Wilkinson] and Danny Vukovic," he says. "They’ve been outstanding over the past two years.

"I know Vukovic is on the fringes of the Socceroos but Wilko has been outstanding every game because he’s defensive and not flashy. But Wilko will give you an 8 or a 9 every week and I think he gets overlooked a wee bit.

“Adam Kwasnik might show some brilliant individualism but because Adam Kwasnik is Adam Kwasnik, it’s just ‘good’. If Fred does it, it’s ‘unbelievable’ so sometimes that annoys us.

"We’re just good honest guys who get on with their business. If they’re doing well, they should get recognition no matter where they’re from.”

The Central Coast Mariners meet Sydney FC in the final Group B Pre-Season Cup match at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.