The "financial woes" of A-League side Central Coast Mariners took an "embarrassing turn" on Wednesday when the "entire playing squad was told to pay for their own admission to the club's end of season awards night," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. In a sign of the extent of the Mariners' "penny-pinching culture, the club asked the players to pay" A$50 ($39.48) per head to attend their own function. After being told of their "complete unwillingness to dip into their own pockets to attend a club event" and pay a total of A$100 ($78.96) if they wanted to bring their partners, the club confirmed it "quickly backed down and decided to cover the players' costs." Central Coast Owner Mike Charlesworth has long "been vocal about the club's poor financial position and a Mariners spokesperson says the initial request was made in order to trim costs." The club was "looking at many ways to trim the costs" of its awards night and charging the players and backroom staff was the "first considered." All staff's attendance to the event "will now be complimentary" (SMH, 4/30).
