The U.S. team that "missed out on the signature of Usain Bolt" admitted it "could not compete financially" with A-League side Central Coast Mariners, but claimed Bolt "would have needed up to two years to develop into a top-level player," according to Christian Nicolussi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. United Soccer League club Austin Bold "briefly entertained the idea of trying to sign Bolt before he opted to try and make it in the A-League." Bold GM Roberto Silva said that he would "never doubt Bolt's ability and potential to succeed in a different sport" but said that the Jamaican "would have taken a much slower route to the top had he signed on with the Texan team." Silva: "Financially, Australia was a very strong proposal for him. His agent was always very clear on saying how much he liked Australia and how much he enjoyed his experience in Australia as a track and fielder. He was always very clear with us about how excited he was with the opportunity to play in Australia. ... With the full proposal, we were very close. ... We were close but we didn't have enough time to make it happen. It's not rude to ask [how much], but I'll say it won't be rude for me to not answer that question" (SMH, 8/21).
'BLANK SLATE': In Sydney, Tom Decent reported Bolt admitted that just like in athletics, the first day of training "is the toughest." He made his first public appearance on Tuesday morning on the turf of Central Coast Stadium alongside his new teammates. He said, "It's just like track and field ... the first day is always the roughest one. You can tell how much work you need to put in. It felt OK. I know it's going to take time and work and I'm ready to work. This is my first chance getting to train and play and get to a level to play as a professional footballer, so I don't know what to expect. I'm just here to push myself, learn as much as possible. I told the coach, 'Listen, I am here with a blank slate, no matter what I've learned or what I've seen on TV.' I'm here to learn and get better and that's my focus.'" Asked what position he would like to play, Bolt replied, "That's all up to the coach really. I've expressed that I'm okay on the wing, I'm good at center forward. At the end of the day, he is the coach and he will determine where I will play or what formation." As for what he could bring to the team "aside from his pace," Bolt said, "I'm very cool under pressure. I think my ability to understand very quickly and to learn is something I am very good at" (SMH, 8/21).
PATIENT APPROACH: Decent also reported Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey said that he is prepared to give Bolt 12 months to "show why he deserves a contract with the club and hinted the sprinting superstar could get his first minutes next Friday" in a preseason trial match. There is "a weight of pressure on Mulvey to unleash Bolt on the football pitch," even if his credentials "might not be where they need to be." Amid "unprecedented media interest," Mulvey said that Bolt’s transition into "potentially being a fully fledged A-League player would not happen overnight." Mulvey: "We don’t have to make a decision tomorrow or the next day. If it takes 12 months -- I’ll say that out loud -- I’m happy for him to be here" (SMH, 8/21). In Sydney, Emma Kemp reported the "very concept" of Bolt "tucked up in bed at 10pm is about as foreign to some as his ambitions to play professional football." Bolt said, "I have to get fit first. I do want to enjoy the city, and the life, but I’m still going to remember that I’m a professional footballer now so I’ve got to respect the rules and the coach." He revealed he had offers from "other teams in France and Spain but was put off by the language barrier" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/21).
