Hyundai A-League champions Mariners have assured fans their future remains on the Central Coast despite reports they could be forced to relocate due to substantial financial losses.
Hyundai A-League champions Mariners have assured fans their future remains on the Central Coast despite reports they could be forced to relocate due to substantial financial losses.
A report in Fairfax press on Tuesday revealed the Mariners are considering a permanent relocation to Sydney's northern suburbs in coming years after suffering losses of more than $1 million a year.
The Mariners have moved one of their home fixtures this season to North Sydney Oval and if it proves successful will shift more fixtures to the venue in coming years as they look to expand their fan base.
While club officials admit they are exploring the benefits of this one-off clash at North Sydney, they are adamant their commitment to the Central Coast area is 'unwavering'.
"The club's owners - including majority shareholder Mr Michael Charlesworth - have injected over $15 million into the club as well as the club's Tuggerah-based Centre of Excellence over the past year, and as such the Central Coast will remain the home of the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions," the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Indeed, Mr Charlesworth is investing in the club's Centre of Excellence with the aim of Central Coast being home to the premier sports training facility in the country, and one day being the official training base of Australia's men's and women's national football teams."
The Mariners are desperate to engage with more supporters and said a recent survey revealed almost 20 percent of their members lived in Sydney's northern suburbs.
And after the Gosford City Council recently knocked back an approach by the club to run their current home ground at Bluetongue Stadium, speculation has grown the Mariners are looking elsewhere to increase cash flow into the club.
"One of the things I really need to do coming in as a new owner is to look at all possibilities and build a sustainable long-term future," Charlesworth told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It's not sustainable, the losses that we're making exceeding $1 million a year. It's not sustainable for the Central Coast or for any particular owner, certainly not myself.
"So something has got to change and if it doesn't change there won't be a Central Coast Mariners, full stop. Finito.
"We have to make this work because that's the alternative, there is no football club, full stop, unless we do something.
"So that means a lot of work on the Central Coast and a lot of work in other regions."
The Mariners host the Melbourne Victory at Bluetongue Stadium on Friday night.