Mariners decide Bolt ‘not ready’ for A-League
THE head of the A-League, Greg O’Rourke, says Usain Bolt could decide within days whether to accept a contract offer from Central Coast Mariners.
“I think it will be played out in a matter of days or weeks,” O’Rourke said.
The Mariners concede it’s unlikely Bolt will accept the contract, reportedly worth $100,000, unless a third-party agreement can be found to deliver more money to the Olympic sprinting great.
“They have put an offer on the table to Usain and that effectively places the ball in Usain’s court,” O’Rourke said.
While Bolt’s trial at the Mariners had created worldwide interest and helped promote the A-League, it hadn’t translated to tangible impact on the domestic competition.
“There’s no doubt that he has brought a lot of attention to the A-League and the Mariners,” O’Rourke said.
“The digital views of uploading his trial and his goals compared to normal ALeague reach numbers, they’re significantly higher. But a lot of those views are international … it brings recognition to the league. But it doesn’t bring people to the gate or subscriptions to Australian broadcasters.”
O’Rourke said a key question lingered about 32-yearold Bolt. “Is he ready to be a footballer? And if so, is he ready to be an A-League footballer?” he said.
“And the answer to that, at this point in time, from himself and the club, is that he’s not ready.”