Former Wellington Phoenix manager Ricki Herbert could return to the A-League with the Central Coast Mariners.

Former Wellington Phoenix manager Ricki Herbert could be headed back to the A-League to replace sacked Central Coast Mariners coach Tony Walmsley.

Walmsley, who finished his 16-month stint at the club with a five win, 25 loss, five draw record, was sacked on Monday.

The Mariners finished dead last in last season's A-League and Walmsley's last act in charge was a shock loss to Victorian state league side Green Gully in an FFA Cup round-of-32 match last week.

Herbert, who coached the Phoenix from 2007-2013, has been named as one of five contenders to replace Walmsley on the A-League website.

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The 55-year-old former All Whites coach is free to take up the job after he finished up as Maldives coach in June.

Herbert signed a two-year deal with the South Asian country last year but requested an early release from his contract.

He guided the team to six wins, a draw and seven losses in his 14 games in charge.

Other names listed as contenders for the Central Coast job include Green Gully coach Arthur Papas and Mariners assistant coach John Hutchinson.

Hutchinson is in charge of the team until Walmsley's replacement is named.

Former Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulve, who guided the Roar to a championship in the 2013/14 season, and Sydney United coach Mark Rudan have also been named as potential replacements.

The Mariners are due to play two preseason games against the Wellington Phoenix in September, including one in Nelson.