Newcastle boss Rob Stanton says the Central Coast Mariners have laid the path for his club to follow as the Jets face an uncertain off-season.
Unable to make the finals, the Jets host the Mariners on Saturday with the final game of the season set to start a winter dominated by questions over Newcastle's long-term sustainability.
Newcastle remain propped up by rival A-League Men clubs and the Jets' hopes of being rescued by a new benefactor have yet to be fulfilled.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) have said they won't step in to save the club if the supporting clubs opt to pull the pin.
But Stanton hopes the Jets can look towards the Mariners' success story as inspiration to brighter days.
Perennial strugglers not so long ago, the Mariners have been turned around by bolstering their academy and selling players to Europe for a profit, with Garang Kuol the most obvious example.
It has also netted them silverware while operating on one of the competition's smallest budgets.
The Mariners are reigning champions and are in the hunt for this year's premiership, championship and are into the final of the AFC Cup.
"It's a good way of doing things if you want to have sustainable success," Stanton said.
"When you develop players and you develop people, you tend to improve and move up.
"That's basically what they've done and then along the way they've sold players.
"So they're building finance, money is coming into the club which they can utilise to build up areas if they want to.
"It's a good blueprint and I think a lot of clubs should do something similar, I think a lot are thinking along those lines."
A win will strengthen the Mariners' bid to topple Wellington and finish the season with the premiership.
Stanton refused to buy into the prospect of spoiling the Mariners' charge, instead urging his side to honour 35-year-old defender Jason Hoffman, who will leave the club by bringing up his 300th ALM game.
"I hope it's a special day for him, I'm happy for him and hope it works out to be a good day for the club," Stanton said.
Australian Associated Press
