Central Coast's Heffernan keen for a new challenge

Dean Heffernan is relishing a new challenge, hence the reason he decided to leave the Central Coast Mariners.

The 29-year old left-back signed a three-year deal with incoming A-League club Melbourne Heart last month and will join them as soon as his duties at the Mariners finish at the end of this season.

Heffernan admits that this was one of hardest decisions he has ever made but is looking forward to a new and exciting challenge.

“I’ve been with the club a long time and they’ve been great to me, but I wanted a new challenge,” Heffernan said.

“There was a real buzz when the Mariners started and it’ll be the same with the new Melbourne team, it’s very exciting.”

Heffernan said it will be hard to leave the Mariners, who he joined when the A-League started in 2005, and dreamed that a Grand Final would be a great way to bow out.

“I’m really close to the boys, a lot of us have been together since the club started,” Heffernan added.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to leave then with a grand final win.”