Bolt from blue as star eyes A- League
USAIN Bolt’s proposed A- League trial will go ahead – but only if Football Federation Australia agrees to contribute around $ 900,000 from its marquee fund should the sprint king prove worthy of a contract.
Australian football agent Tony Rallis says an “in- principle” deal has been reached to bring the eight- time Olympic gold medallist to the Central Coast Mariners for a six- week trial.
Rallis is in the UK and has been dealing directly with Bolt’s representative Ricky Simms, who he says is fully supportive of the idea.
Bolt, 31, retired from sprinting last year but has long harboured ambitions of a career in football.
“We’ve got a club that’s willing to allow him to trial and offer him the contract,” Rallis said. “We’ve got an athlete that’s prepared to meet the trial criteria … We just need some funding from the FFA to top it up.”
FFA has declined to comment, but it’s understood the governing body will not put funds towards a trial under any circumstances.
However, Rallis said that was not what he was after.
“We’re not asking them to fund a trial. If it materialises into a contract, that’s when we need some funding,” he said. “We’re going through the proper channels, we’re just waiting for a reply.”
FFA has a pot of $ 3 million, provided by Fox Sports, to spend on marquee players. FFA is believed to be in talks with former Japanese international Keisuke Honda, who is interested in joining Melbourne Victory and would command the majority of the fund if he reaches an agreement with the A- League champions.