MELBOURNE City is planning for life after John van’t Schip, although the Dutchman will see out the final year of his contract.

The Herald Sun understands that van’t Schip has told the City board that he will not seek an extension to his contract and will return home in 2017 to be closer to his family.

It’s believed that City Football Group contemplated van’t Schip’s future but opted to allow him to see out the final year of his deal, despite reservations about resting key players in the FFA Cup semi-final loss to Perth Glory and the underwhelming finish to a record-breaking season.

Brian Marwood, City Football Services Managing Director, has led the post-season cull with assistant Luciano Trani dumped while Ivan Jolic quit for family reasons.

The new chief assistant will be an overseas appointment and it’s believed that he will be groomed to take over from van’t Schip at the end of the season.

The faith in van’t Schip contrasts with CFG’s decisive action with Mark Hughes at Manchester City and New York City last year, where Jason Kriess was axed after a season and replaced by Man City youth coach Patrick Vieira.

Melbourne City heavy hitters, led by chief executive Scott Munn and football chiefs John Didulica and Michael Petrillo along with all head of departments are in Manchester for a fortnight of meetings with their CFG overlords plotting recruitment and off-field strategies for next season.

The post-season wheeling-dealing is moving into overdrive, while negotiations about Bruno Fornaroli’s upgraded marquee contract continue.

City is believed to have requested fringe Socceroos full-back Tarek Elrich as a trade for Ben Garuccio, who Adelaide is trying to lure.

This is believed to be the hold up with offering Michael Zullo a new contract and the left-sided player has now attracted interest from Sydney FC and Perth Glory.

In other squad news:

— Anthony Caceres will stay in Melbourne, despite FFA’s moves to introduce ‘The Caceres Rule’, blocking any such loan deals in future;

— Aaron Mooy’s transfer to Europe will be sealed within a month.

City refused to comment on van’t Schip and all transfer matters.

Players are due back for pre-season on June 27.