A pocket of supporters showed their anger at a string of poor results leading up to the team’s 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix last weekend.

But the Manchester-born coach, recently appointed for two years, assured supporters the first major battle in resurrecting the team’s fortunes has already been won.

“When I came in one of the first things that needed to be done was make sure that everyone was pushing in the same direction,” he said.

“That was first and foremost – we had to make sure everyone understood where we wanted to go and how we wanted to achieve it.

“If you’ve got people who are pulling in different directions, as was happening at the time, then you’ve got to correct that.

“Everybody has to be on the same page, everybody has to be proud to wear an orange shirt and play for the club.

“We need to improve on our ability to keep the ball, our rotational movement and our mobility within the team and now that we’ve actually got everyone pushing in the same direction we can start working on those things and making sure that they’re happening.”

When Mulvey arrived on the scene back in December he says there was little competition for places.

Promising youngsters like Luke Brattan, who has just signed a new two year contract, were languishing in the youth squad or on the bench.

Others like Jack Hingert and James Donachie were not regular first teamers and had to be integrated into the playing group.

“It’s probably fair to say that the depth of the squad was not what it should have been and maybe one or two people were maybe comfortable,” Mulvey said.

“And if there are any players who are comfortable and there’s a little complacency around the place then that’s like a death knell.”

The club, he says, was still recovering from the uncertainty surrounding the departure of title-winning coach Ange Postecoglou and the appointment of his successor, Rado Vidosic, who Mulvey replaced.

“I think the club stood still for a little bit in terms of recruitment and in terms of planning for the future,” he said

“And my view is, whether you’re successful or not, you need to have some replenishment, you need to have some renewal and I’m not sure that happened between (Ange) going and the change-over.

“Right now, for example, with six games to go, I’m looking at players for next season. I’m signing players for next season. Now when there were six games to go last year did that happen with the same relentless pursuit of improvement?

“It’s very very difficult if there’s a coach there who may be leaving and another one who doesn’t know if he’s going to take over yet – in that period of time the club’s left in a little bit of limbo.”

Despite this season’s disappointments, a win tonight against Newcastle Jets could see Roar leapfrog the Hunter outfit into sixth spot and back into finals contention.

There is still everything to play for and Mulvey says fans can expect 100 per cent commitment from the players to get the job done.

“The boys are very focused now,” he said. “They realise this is the business end of the season and if we want to redeem what has been largely a disappointing season in terms of Roar’s standard then we know that it’s really important to start winning games now.

“I think Ange brought a very positive style of football to the club and that’s in the club’s DNA now. That’s the kind of football we want to get back to – a good possession-based, attack-minded game of football.

“Super competitive, good quality football that will entertain the Brisbane fans. Yes, it’s a results-based game but we want to win in a particular way with a particular style.”

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