APL Chief Executive, Steve Rosich, said recently there were at least 12 potential buyers for the club, both local and international entities.
However, the Central Coast Sun can reveal this list has been trimmed substantially and that top-level negotiations with preferred bidders are underway.
The Mariners are currently being propped up by the APL, allowing the men’s and women’s teams to keep playing in the A-Leagues competitions amid their current uncertainty, after it was announced on January 12 that owner Mike Charlesworth had given back his licence to run the club.
The APL has also given a commitment to fund the Central Coast Mariners Academy through to the end of the 2026 season, which allowed school holiday clinics on the Central Coast to go ahead and CCM Academy training to continue ahead of the new season.
The Central Coast Sun is now joining political leaders and local business groups in calling for any potential new owner to make the Central Coast Junior Academy a priority and better engage with local businesses and, most importantly, the fans.
The Mariners are part of the fabric of our community, bringing locals together in shared passion and pride in our region.
Member for Wyong David Harris, Member for The Entrance David Mehan and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said in a statement to the Central Coast Sun that they support the APL negotiating an outcome to secure a new owner as soon as possible to give certainty to players, staff, fans and the broader Central Coast community.
But the political leaders added: “As a minimum, fans need a guarantee that the Mariners’ licence will remain on the Central Coast and that the club’s name and colours are protected.”
The local Members want potential new owners to consider an ownership structure that could include elements of a fan-based partnership model to help address financial and governance challenges and continue to grow the club’s supporter base.
It is also imperative that any new ownership structure retains the Mariners’ women’s team – the reigning Ninja A-League Champions – and the Central Coast Academy, which has produced a long line of outstanding footballers including Maty Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Max Balard and, most recently, women’s star Annalise Rasmussen, who has just signed a lucrative deal with European superclub Juventus.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris said: “The Central Coast Mariners is a crucial and well-loved part of the Coast’s sporting fabric and any decision made about its ownership should consider the best interests of the stakeholders, supporters and the community.
“I join my fellow Coast MPs in hoping new owners are secured as soon as possible to give everyone the certainty that is needed to secure the club’s future on the Coast.”
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch said: “I’m right there with all the other fans and Coasties getting behind our great Mariners teams.
“Let’s push forward and kick a successful and speedy negotiation into the back of the net to secure the future of our beloved club at their home here on the Coast.”
CEO Steve Rosich said the APL Board was mindful of the importance of any new ownership model being acceptable to local fans and the Central Coast community.
“One of the biggest decisions a league can make is on the owners of the licences, so that is firstly a very appropriately governed process,” he said.
“In terms of our final selection of an owner for the Central Coast Mariners, which the Board will work through and then Football Australia will consider, it will absolutely include other elements other than finances.”
