WARREN MOON DEPARTS LIONS FC TO JOIN CENTRAL COAST MARINERS AS INTERIM HEAD COACH
Lions FC can confirm that Technical Director Warren Moon has departed the club with immediate effect to take an exciting opportunity with A-Leagues side, the Central Coast Mariners.
After three seasons as Technical Director, Warren returns to the A-Leagues for the first time since departing Brisbane Roar in 2023. His first game in Gosford will take place this weekend, as the Mariners open the season with an F3 Derby against Newcastle Jets.
Warren Moon first joined Lions FC as Head Coach in 2014, and guided the club to back-to-back Brisbane Premier League (BPL) Championships in 2016 & 2017. In 2018, when the club entered the National Premier League (NPL), Warren steered the club towards a famous Premiership & Championship double. He followed up in 2019 with another NPL Premiership.
Following a three-year stint as Academy General Manager and then A-Leagues Head Coach for Brisbane Roar, Moon returned to the Richlands to take on the role of Technical Director.
Since then, he has been instrumental in the development of our Junior & Senior program at Lions FC. With a development-first approach, he has helped the club retain our FQ Gold Academy Status, with teams competing in both the FQA1 and FQA3 divisions.
During his three seasons at the club, Warren has been instrumental in creating pathways for both coaches and players to develop. This year, we saw Emmett Shaw break into the first team while also earning a call-up to the U17 Australian squad as part of the team’s preparations for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Qualifiers. Recently, Will Martin made his debut for the U16 New Zealand National Team in the OFC U16 Men’s Championship 2025.
Warren has also made a tireless effort to further create pathways and partnerships between other clubs and schools, playing a key role in our partnership with Brothers TSV Football Club in Townsville. He also orchestrated a growing relationship with Thailand side Phrae United that saw two of their players travel to Queensland to train alongside our NPL Men.
In his time at the club, Warren accepted the role of Assistant Coach of the U18s Australian National team, travelling to Switzerland in June to compete in the UEFA Friendship Cup. He also spent 12 months as the Head Coach of the Papau New Guinea National team, providing a pathway for captain Alwwin Komolong joining the club in the 2024 season.
Lions FC General Manager Rob Scanlon spoke highly of Warren’s contributions to the club, congratulating him on his new appointment.
“We want to sincerely thank Warren Moon for his outstanding contribution to Lions FC during his time as Technical Director. Warren has been instrumental in reforming and aligning our playing style across every level of the club, ensuring a clear and consistent football identity from our youngest academy players through to our senior NPL squads.
His introduction of Individual Development Plans (IDPs), player profiling, and modern training methodologies has elevated the way we educate and develop our players. Warren’s professionalism, attention to detail, and passion for football have left a lasting mark on our club and our people.
We congratulate Warren on his appointment as interim Head Coach of the Central Coast Mariners and wish him every success in the A-League. He will always be part of the Lions FC family.”
Warren Moon shared his parting thoughts as he finishes up at the club and prepares to travel to Gosford for this weekend’s F3 Derby.
“Obviously, I’m sad to be leaving such a prestigious club as Lions FC, but the opportunity to coach back in the A-League was one I couldn’t pass up.
I know the club’s in a really great position under the leadership of all the management here at the club, Justin Hall, Rob Scanlon in football, the board, and all the great people working behind the scenes are going to work very hard in next year is to make this the elite club in Queensland, and possibly Australia at NPL level.
I wish everyone the very best.”
The team at Lions FC would like to congratulate Warren on this new opportunity and wish him the best of luck in the A-League.
ENDS.
