A-League side Central Coast Mariners "could become the first A-League club to assume full operational control of their home ground after submitting an offer to take up the management of Bluetongue Stadium as early as February," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. On the same day as the club announced its "strategic push into Sydney's northern suburbs by relocating an A–League match to North Sydney Oval," it also submitted its "bid to Gosford City Council to win the rights for Bluetongue Stadium." Entrepreneur John Singleton "currently holds the rights but the venue's only regular tenants are vying for the long-term management in order to set their own terms regarding costs, facilities and upgrades." After the purchase of the rights, the A–League champions "will be able to set operational costs on their own terms and will receive greater profits from ticketing and food and beverage services." GM Peter Turnbull vowed that the club "will also tailor the venue to fan entertainment, should they be successful, and earmarked the possibility of implementing a beach within the ground similar to that used in the cricket last season." The club also "has ambitions beyond the A-League and is looking to establish the scenic ground as a future home of Australia's youth and women's national football teams" (SMH, 8/6).
