Ibini was due to resume pre-season preparations on Tuesday after 10 days stress leave, but has obtained another medical certificate to extend his leave by a week.

The 28-year-old attacker signed a one-season extension with the Jets in August, but has been agitating for a release since the departure of coach Carl Robinson to Western Sydney last month.

The Jets have refused a request to tear up the final year of Ibini's contract.

O'Donovan struck up a lethal partnership with the powerful front man in the final stages of last season and would be "disappointed" if he can't rekindle their combination when the new campaign starts on December 27.

"I hope he sees some sense, comes back to training and we can start scoring some goals," O'Donovan said. "He is a good player, he is a good lad and we want him here.

"He has had his head turned. I hope he has some time to think about it and realises he can do very well here and become a household name in Newcastle.

"Everything after that would be gravy, whether it is [a move] overseas or whatever. Come in and do a little more work here.

"The combination we had in the last four games last season excited me.

"I really hope it's not the end of our partnership."

The departure of Robinson and a raft of key players, and the uncertainty over the club's ownership is driving Ibini's desire to jump ship.

"It is a short career and he wants to maximise his opportunities," O'Donovan said.

"I have been there myself. I'm 35 now but I have been 19 or 20 and trying to get a move. You don't realise what you have until its gone. Bernie saw last year when it is going well, there is no place like Newcastle. This is a special club with massive potential.

"There has been a lot of negativity since the end of the season. We have lost our coach, we have lost players, there have been no new signings .... but it is all going to happen very quickly.

"It (transfer of ownership) is in FFA's hands now and hopefully it gets signed off and everybody can see the positive things."

Though keen for Ibini to rejoin the squad, O'Donovan maintained his contract wrangle had not been a distraction for the group.

"We are not in the middle of the season and he is not missing for the next game," O'Donovan said. "Regarding us players, we are just trying to get fit and sharp. We would love him to be here but life goes on."

Steve Ugarkovic, who is in his fifth season at the Jets, also expressed a want to leave after the shock exit by Robinson.

The industrious midfielder has continued preparing with the squad.

"The difference is that Stevie has been here a while,"O'Donovan said. "He realises another year at the Newcastle Jets is not that bad a thing. It is a great place and a good bunch.

"He is another one who is very important down the spine of our team and has gotten better year by year. I think he should be a Socceroo already. I think that is coming and I don't see any reason why he can't do that in a Newcastle Jets shirt."

O'Donovan and Ugarkovic started as the Jets opened the pre-season with a 2-0 loss to the Mariners last Friday.

"We lacked a bit of sharpness in the final third, but I thought defensively we were well structured,"O'Donovan said. "We are not going to worry about a friendly game that didn't mean very much. When we got to a grand final in 2018, we lost against the Mariners in the first game of that pre-season as well.

"We have a game [against Edgeworth] on Saturday. Hopefully we are better this weekend, better again the following weekend and we are peaking when the A-League season comes along."

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