Wednesday, 19 September 2012:

Scottish midfielder Nick Montgomery has arrived on the Central Coast to begin his three-season stint with A-League club the Mariners.

The 30-year-old, who signed the deal last month, joins the Mariners after spending his entire 12-year club career to date with English club Sheffield United.

Sheffield played in both the Premier League and Championship over that time.

"I'd always thought about a change and after being at one club for so long when the opportunity came up I spoke to the manager and the Chairman at the Central Coast," Montgomery said on Wednesday.

"After I spoke to them there was only one place I wanted to come and that was here.

"I did have other offers in the Championship in England but when the opportunity came up I spoke to my wife and we decided to go with it."

Last season's minor premiers and grand finalists suffered key losses in captain and central defender Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk) and midfield young gun Mustafa Amini (Borussia Dortmund) in the off-season.

Coach Graham Arnold said Montgomery, who has played over 350 games for Sheffield, brings much-needed experience to the side.

"We've lost some experience out of the squad, especially out of the middle of the team with Alex Wilkinson in the off-season," Arnold said.

"Nick brings a lot of experience but also he's a fabulous person ... He pretty much ticks every box that we needed ticked off."

AAP