The Central Coast star will join Arnold's new club Vegalta Sendai on loan next year and hopes the opportunity in Asia's highest profile league will lead to a permanent overseas stay.     

"It's going to be very tough and a step up but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to and hopefully I do well," he said after Central Coast's 2-0 loss to the Wanderers on Monday night. 

"It's going to be pretty sharp and that's something I'm good at, at moving the ball quickly. 

"A different culture and a different league – I think it's going to be good for me." 

While Mariners coach Phil Moss is disappointed to lose McGlinchey at a crucial stage of the season, he sees nothing but positives in the move. 

"This has been earned through hard work and taking his game to a whole new level," Moss said. 

"He's fully earned this crack in the J League. It's the biggest league in Asia – it's not like he's going to a second-rate competition. 

"He's going to the biggest competition in Asia and I know he'll do well." 

The door for McGlinchey's exit is a revolving one, though, with club favourite Berni Ibini returning to offset the New Zealand international's departure.

Ibini, who played in the Mariners' grand final-winning side last season, has been loaned out by Chinese club Shanghai SIPG until the end of May. 

"Everyone that has watched the A-League over the past few seasons knows exactly what Bernie Ibini is capable of, and we know he will be an important member of our squad for the remainder of the domestic season as well as our 2014 AFC Champions League Group Stage campaign," Moss said. 

"We're delighted to welcome Bernie back to the club." 

Moss refused to label the comings and goings at the club a distraction but it's evident the Mariners are lacking cohesion and certainty. 

They have lost two of their last three but Moss insists there was plenty like about the Wanderers defeat. 

"I thought, funnily enough, (it) was one of our better performances over the last five weeks," he said.        

"If you sum up the first half they had three chances and took two, two of which we gave them. 

"We were to blame in some key areas in the first half. 

"I was very happy with the second half, I thought they boys showed some real character not to concede another two or three and we caused them some problems."