Bolt
trial finished at Central Coast Mariners
Send a link to a friend
[November 02, 2018]
MELBOURNE, Nov 2 (Reuters) -
Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has finished his football trial
at Central Coast Mariners and will leave the club after failing to
agree commercial terms, the A-League side said on Friday.
The Jamaican's mission to secure a professional contract in
Australia at the age of 32 dominated pre-season and proved a
marketing boost for the sleepy Central Coast region north of Sydney.
However, his performances in training and trial matches over the
last two months did little to remove doubts about the eight-time
Olympic gold medallist's chances of making the grade.
Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth said the Mariners had been
"thrilled" to have worked with the popular athlete.
"Despite the fact that we could not come to an agreement that would
continue Usain Bolt's football journey with the Central Coast
Mariners, we've been thrilled to have the Olympic champion sprinter
and world record holder as part of our Club for these past eight
weeks," he said in a joint statement with Bolt.
The Mariners said they had worked with Bolt and his agent Ricky
Simms to engage with external partners in a bid to strike a
commercial deal.
"Despite several promising potential partners, both Bolt and the
Central Coast Mariners have amicably concluded that they will not be
able to settle on a suitable deal in a timely manner," the statement
added.
Bolt thanked the club and wished them well for the new season.
"I would like to thank the Central Coast Mariners owners,
management, staff, players and fans for making me feel so welcome
during my time there. I wish the club success for the season ahead,"
he said.
[to top of second column] |
Bolt drew thousands of fans to Mariners' pre-season games that would
normally struggle to draw a few hundred, and his two goals in a
match against a local amateur side generated headlines worldwide.
However, it was not enough for the Mike Mulvey-coached club to
produce a contract before the season started last month.
With the league's next registration period not opening until Jan. 3,
that left Bolt as little more than a high-profile cheerleader.
Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop also said he would
not dig into the A-League's marquee fund to secure a contract with
Bolt.
Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp was diplomatic when asked whether
Bolt's departure was a matter of financial terms or his quality as a
footballer.
"It's more of a timing issue in all fairness," he told reporters on
Friday, speaking of Bolt as a "fast" learner.
"I suppose there is an air of regret that this huge opportunity
wasn't able to be maximised.
"It was such a crazy moment that everyone got a brilliant chance to
enjoy the ride that happened... To have our club on the world stage
and world media was something that we will forever be grateful for."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Editing by Peter
Rutherford/John O'Brien )
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |