But Mielekamp admits the club is being run on a fraction of the budget of rivals, although he said there were plans to increase the spending on salaries next season.

"The problem isn't the increase though," he said. "The problem is the rate of increase.

"Can we keep pace with the other A-League clubs? Not only on salaries but on the off-field resources that are allocated.

"We are the smallest club, and we do come up against the financial clout of City Football Group so we have to make sure we spend every dollar really, really smart.

"The increases are coming - but are the increases enough and coming fast enough? That's the real question.

"When you win football games, you are competitive – so when someone like Alen Stajcic believes and feels that this club can be competitive from what he's seen already then we are confident that's possible."

He added: "I believe 100 percent there is a viable future for the Mariners, because we're sustainable.

"That's what the last four years has really been about - financial stability. The players are getting paid, the bills are getting paid, the facility and everything is here.

"Those building blocks are in place. That's why we've gone through the hard times. Now we need to make sure that it's not just about being financially stable and surviving.

"It's about actually being prosperous and growing – and being competitive."