FFA coy on funding Bolt deal
Even a roaring stint from sprint legend Usain Bolt may not be enough to get Football Federation Australia to loosen the purse strings as the Olympic great contemplates a six-week trial with the Central Coast Mariners.
News that Bolt, the 31-year-old eight-time Olympic champion, was on the verge of trialling with the Mariners quickly did the rounds of the global post-world Cup football media cycle.
That’s the kind of attention an athlete of his stature commands but whether he fits the bill for a marquee player top-up, which would near the $1 million mark, remains to be seen as FFA officials closely watch proceedings unfold.
FFA won’t contribute a cent to the trial should it eventuate, and they are likely to take some convincing if they are to reach into a fund originally designed to lure football icons such as Alessandro Del Piero, not retired track stars keen for a second career.
The $3 million war chest, courtesy of broadcaster Fox Sports, has been the subject of debate in the game on how it should be best spent. Nearly a third of that would go to Bolt if he impressed coach Mike Mulvey enough to earn a contract.
Australian football agent Tony Rallis, who has been in Britain dealing with Bolt’s representative Ricky Simms, said 70 per cent of any wage paid to Bolt would be guaranteed by the owner of the Mariners, Mike Charlesworth.
Rallis said there was an ‘‘in principle’’ agreement to bring Bolt down to Australia for a trial with a view to him earning a roster spot for the season as he tries to pursue a dream of playing professional 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 and benchmarks.
‘‘We just need some funding from the FFA to top it up. We’re not asking them to fund a trial. If it materialises into a contract, that’s when we need some funding.’’
Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp said he wanted to finalise any trial arrangement before the end of August.