Football
5y

Usain Bolt still optimistic over 'opportunities' after rejecting Central Coast Mariners

Usain Bolt hopes he will still get a chance to play professional football after expressing sadness things didn't work out with A-League club Central Coast Mariners.

Bolt rejected a Central Coast offer on Friday when commercial sponsors couldn't be found to boost his wage, effectively ending his two-month trial.

The eight-time Olympic sprint champion turned up at Melbourne's Flemington track for Derby Day on Saturday.

"It''s said that it didn't work out, but we parted on good terms, and that's a good thing," Bolt told the Herald Sun.

"I had a great experience with them. The guys were great -- we just couldn't work out things with the contract. Hopefully I get another chance with another team."

Bolt, who has also spent time with clubs in Germany, South Africa and Norway prior to the Mariners was adamant he could still play professional football.

"For sure," said the 32-year-old Jamaican, who also turned down a contract with a Maltese club while at the Mariners.

"We'll see what happens. I think people are still contacting my agent now about opportunities, so we'll see in which direction it goes."

Unsurprised by Bolt's exit, Brisbane coach John Aloisi felt the A-League may have been seen as a gimmicky competition if the world's fastest man stayed in Australia.

Aloisi dismissed criticism the A-League had missed a golden marketing chance by letting Bolt go, saying the sprint great's retention may have put off genuine marquee imports coming to the country.

It's understood Bolt was offered a contract of about $150,000 without a guarantee of getting an A-League game, while his camp reportedly asked for a $3 million deal.

Aloisi didn't have a problem with Football Federation Australia refusing to dip into its marquee money to fund Bolt, saying there was no guarantee he would have bolstered the league. Asked if the A-League had missed a chance to promote the league by letting Bolt go, Aloisi said: "That's difficult for me to say.

"I am not sure whether the crowds would have lifted or if they did lift would it be for a short period ...

"And will it affect other foreign players at the top level coming to Australia because they think it is a gimmick league?"

Aloisi said he thought it was always going to be difficult for someone like Bolt to play at professional level without previous experience.

"[The Mariners] tried, they had a look to see if it would work and in their eyes it didn't. I am sure they will move on," he said.

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