A decision won’t be made until after the club’s ACL campaign winds down but O’Sullivan believes if the job becomes available, he can return five years after exiting the Mariners as a player, and build on the its current success as its coach.

O’Sullivan, who lives on the Central Coast, was a foundation player at Central Coast before leaving to pursue a coaching career after two seasons.

The high-energy player and fan favourite then worked with Ricki Herbert's Wellington Phoenix as an assistant for two years. He has also coached the Jets’ W-League side and at the NSWIS program.

Now he wants to return to the Mariners and make the step up to the hot seat - and bring his own brand of football to Gosford.

“I like the term ‘Sexy Football', style with substance," said the 38 year old. "Passing both short and long in order to create attacking options, combined with individual brilliance that builds attack from deep and plays through the thirds of the field.

“Defensively I like to control the opposition by pressing the ball and retaining possession as often possible, together with the basics of hard work, energy and intensity.”

Other coaches who may be in the frame should the former Socceroo coach move to the Sky Blues include highly rated Phil Stubbins, the former Reds assistant coach who last week parted ways with his Thai Premier League club just three months into his contract.

Former Gold Coast coach Mike Mulvey and Jets and ex-Heart assistant Arthur Papas could also be in line for the job if Arnold is lured to Moore Park.

But O'Suliivan, a former Swindon, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff and Parramatta Power midfielder, has been identified as a coach of the future, guided by FFA national technical director Han Berger.

He has recently involved with the Young Socceroos as an assistant coach and technical analyst, and was short-listed for the head coach job at the AIS only to lose out to Tony Vidmar.

He was offered the assistant's job but he felt it was time to move into senior coaching.

The Cypriot-born coach has completed his A- and B-Licences with the FFA and is completing his Pro Diploma this month. He has also completed a Masters of Education in Coaching at Sydney University.

“As an original senior player, we saw everything develop from its inception and as senior players were significantly influential in the culture of the football club that is so admired throughout the league," he said.

“I still have very strong connections with the technical staff, the admin staff and the players and would therefore not only continue the already well established great work but would bring a new energy as a young coach.”

O’Sullivan said whoever coaches the team was working off a strong platform, but he identified areas where the side needs boosting with possible changes.

He added: “Where it perhaps lacks is a little depth in the key areas, specifically through the middle of the team.

"Another dynamic midfielder, another dynamic goal scorer and another quality defender to cover Wilkinson and Zwaanswijk are needed."