Central Coast coach Graham Arnold claims he’s paying no attention to speculation linking him with a move to Sydney FC next season, insisting he’s dedicated to the Mariners’ playing group.

The Sky Blues are on the lookout for a new coach after mutually agreeing to part ways with Vitezslav Lavicka at the end of the season, and are said to be keen on trying to lure Arnold south despite him having another year to run on his Mariners contract.

The former Socceroos coach admitted to frustrations with the Gosford club after Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Bluetongue Stadium, almost certainly referring to the Mariners’ dire financial situation.

But he insisted he was focused solely on his job with Central Coast, who hold a seven-point lead atop the A-League and will embark on their Asian Champions League campaign next month.

Asked whether the speculation had proved a distraction, Arnold replied: “I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I’ll be honest and I’ll probably upset you, I don’t read newspapers.

“I don’t even know what they’re writing, I just hear. And I don’t care.

“I’ve got a job to do here, I love these players.

“There’s a lot of things at the club I’m not happy with but I love the playing group and we’ve got three or four months of exciting stuff ahead of us.

“That’s all I’m concentrating on. You blokes know more, because you write it.”

Former Socceroos coach Arnold has made an impressive impact with the Mariners since joining the club at the start of last season.

He led them to the 2010-11 grand final and Central Coast are hot favourites for the premiership and championship this season.