FFA need to support Usain Bolt A-League plan, says deal mastermind
The brains behind the Bolt deal has called on the governing body to get behind it The mastermind behind the bid to bring athletics superstar Usain Bolt to the A-League's Central Coast Mariners says Football Federation Australia needs to get behind the deal for it to succeed.
Football agent Tony Rallis, whose stable of clients include Mariners coach Mike Mulvey and Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, believes the opportunity to bring the eight-time Olympic gold medallist Down Under could be a huge boost for the A-League, but will need help from the league's governing body to get off the ground.
Rallis has been working on the deal with Bolt's representatives and the Mariners for the 30-year-old athlete to spend six weeks on trial with the Gosford-based club to earn the right for a professional contract.
He made it clear there was no guarantees for Bolt, who would have to impress during the trial to have any chance of becoming a Mariners player.
It's understood the Mariners would need approximately AU$900,000 from the FFA's marquee player kitty to fund a contract for the Jamaican sprinter.
"I would like to think that if this gets supported the A-League will be put on the map," Rallis told Four Four Two.
"Hopefully the FFA will support it. I just want to help the game, I really do. We need to do something.
"Usain will trial, if he fails then there will be no contract. The world will talk about the A-League in the meantime.
"Usain is committed to being a footballer. He will attract a new supporter base. What he brings by way of new media platforms, a new supporter base and corporate deals will be second to none."
Central Coast has recently appointed Brisbane Roar championship winner Mulvey as their new manager - the club's fifth head coach in the past three years.
The Mariners are set to play Adelaide United at Marden in the FFA Cup on August 1 before the A-League season kicks off away against Brisbane Roar on October 21.
Courtesy of Goal.com
Football agent Tony Rallis, whose stable of clients include Mariners coach Mike Mulvey and Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, believes the opportunity to bring the eight-time Olympic gold medallist Down Under could be a huge boost for the A-League, but will need help from the league's governing body to get off the ground.
Rallis has been working on the deal with Bolt's representatives and the Mariners for the 30-year-old athlete to spend six weeks on trial with the Gosford-based club to earn the right for a professional contract.
He made it clear there was no guarantees for Bolt, who would have to impress during the trial to have any chance of becoming a Mariners player.
It's understood the Mariners would need approximately AU$900,000 from the FFA's marquee player kitty to fund a contract for the Jamaican sprinter.
"I would like to think that if this gets supported the A-League will be put on the map," Rallis told Four Four Two.
"Hopefully the FFA will support it. I just want to help the game, I really do. We need to do something.
"Usain will trial, if he fails then there will be no contract. The world will talk about the A-League in the meantime.
"Usain is committed to being a footballer. He will attract a new supporter base. What he brings by way of new media platforms, a new supporter base and corporate deals will be second to none."
Central Coast has recently appointed Brisbane Roar championship winner Mulvey as their new manager - the club's fifth head coach in the past three years.
The Mariners are set to play Adelaide United at Marden in the FFA Cup on August 1 before the A-League season kicks off away against Brisbane Roar on October 21.
Courtesy of Goal.com
