Locals to savour Mariners benefits

HAVING locals play games against the Central Coast Mariners was better than having Tasmanian taxpayers fork out cash to bring an A-League roster game to the state, South Hobart coach Ken Morton believes.

It has been announced the Mariners will hold a pre-season training camp in the state next month including games against a Tasmanian NPL select side and South Hobart.

It comes just the day after it was revealed there would be no A-League roster games in Tasmania next season because it is believed the Tasmanian Government would not foot a $300,000 bill to do so.

Morton, who also will be part of a selection and coaching team for the NPL side as well as coaching South Hobart, said having the Mariners come to town was a far better alternative and a step along the path of Tasmania joining the A-League.

“I’m not overly concerned about the teams coming here [for A-League roster games],” Morton said.

“I think it should be Tasmanian teams playing A-League teams and we should have a team in the A-League and that is more my concern.

“Without doubt there should be more and you know we will keep driving things as much as we possibly can.

“But just for players alone to get that experience of playing against an A-League team I think is immense and I would like to think we have the players ... and it is the next step in the direction of their careers.

“You know there’s a lot of good young football players in Tasmania who do not get that exposure. This is the start of it and hopefully lots more opportunities for them as well and our own A-League team is not too far away.”

Morton said the backers of the state’s A-League push, led by Melbourne millionaire Harry Stamoulis, were still working behind the scenes and had not given up.

Football Tasmania technical director Michael Edwards, who will also be on the selection and coaching panel, said news of the Mariners visit was warmly welcomed.

“The preference would be to have our own A-League team in the A-League competition,” Edwards said. “But in the meantime we have to take steps along the way.”

The Mariners, under new coach, former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic, will be in Tasmania for four days, playing a Tasmanian state team at Darcy Street on September 8 and against at Lightwood Park against South Hobart on September 10, as well as taking junior clinics and promoting football in the community.