Football Federation Australia "has admitted it is working closely" with A-League club Central Coast Mariners "to sort out some important issues but has no concerns over the future of the embattled club," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. There has been an "air of doom and gloom in some quarters in the wake of a tough two-week period for the A-League champion culminating with a disappointing crowd" of less than 6,000 for one of its marquee games of the season against Melbourne Victory last Friday night. Majority Owner Mike Charlesworth revealed losses of A$1M ($910,000) a season. However, A-League boss Damien de Bohun "remains upbeat, declaring the issues affecting the Mariners are not insurmountable." He said,
"We are not concerned about the Mariners. One of the realities is that the Mariners are going through some significant changes." De Bohun said that he "was aware of the financial situation at the Mariners and that he and Charlesworth were in constant contact." De Bohun:
"We are not concerned (about the reported $1M losses). I speak to Mike regularly and the reality is FFA is constantly focusing on the sustainability of the national competition" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/3). In Sydney, Dominic Bossi reported Central Coast has "accepted an offer" from FFA "to assist in finding additional shirt sponsors for their Asian Champions League campaign to help cover projected losses."
The Mariners confirmed on Friday night that "they approached the FFA seeking financial assistance to cover high operational costs associated with participating in the continental tournament but denied reports that they were looking to withdraw from the group stage" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/3).
