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JOEL Griffiths is not sure whether he will play in the A-League again, let alone make a fairytale return and complete his career at the Jets.
But the former Golden Boot winner and Jets all-time leading goalscorer has no doubts that his former club can be a force again.
"Absolutely, the Jets can be a success," Griffiths told the Herald from Wellington, where he is recovering after a knee reconstruction nine days ago.
"The next 12 months is the most important in the club's history. It won't be easy. Anyone who thinks it will has rocks in their head. They need to put a fine line through everything. No shortcuts.
"The most important thing is to bring in the right people."
Griffiths was one of five senior players sacked in January after they expressed concerns to Nathan Tinkler over the direction of the club under coach Phil Stubbins.
Griffiths signed a short-term deal with Wellington in February and was in talks to extend his stay before injuring his knee.
"Ernie Merrick has turned this club and city around," Griffiths said.
"That is the No.1 thing, getting the right coach and the right brand of football."
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Griffiths remains bitterly aggrieved over his exit from the Jets.
"It was a couple of people making those decisions. Here we are today and they are gone.
"I feel sorry for the CEO, Mitchell Murphy.
"The talks I had with him, I think he is the right man for the job. Hopefully he can have the reins now and some autonomy."
In three spells in Newcastle, Griffiths scored 34 goals in 83 games. He won a title in 2008 and collected the Jonny Warren medal and golden boot.
"Newcastle people want a team they can connect with and one that represents them," he said.
"When I came back [in 2014] it felt as though the club had lost its way in the community. People that used to come to our games, when I came back they were disengaged.
"The club has to bring those people back, the loyal supporters who have lost a bit of faith."
Griffiths and wife Bianca own a home lending business at The Junction.
"I'll play for free at the Jets," he said. "When you go elsewhere it might be about the money, but when you play for the Jets it's not. I owe them more than they owe me."
What a legend