CENTRAL Coast Mariners are pleased to announce that two Asian football investment groups will soon visit Gosford to open talks about investment opportunities in the Club and its Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners are pleased to announce that two Asian football investment groups will soon visit Gosford to open talks about investment opportunities in the Club and its Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah.
The two groups are among several interested parties who have received and reviewed an extensive Information Memorandum on the Central Coast Mariners.
The Mariners Board of Directors formally invite further expressions of interest by investors locally, nationally and globally as the Club strives to accelerate its growth plans and capitalise on additional business opportunities available to it.
Central Coast Mariners Chairman Peter Turnbull said it-s the right time for the Club to further broaden its capital base, having completed the start-up and formative phase, and achieved an enviable position in Australia-s national competition, the Hyundai A League.
“This is exciting juncture in the club-s short, yet proud history,” said Mr Turnbull.
“We are currently top of the Hyundai A-League and National Youth League and we are the reigning premiers in each competition. The Mariners will this year compete in the Asian Champions League for the third time and is on track to do so again in 2014.
“The on-field success is underpinned by the Club-s unique, innovative Centre of Excellence complex, which is well underway. The Tuggerah facility is now home to the Mariners- entire football department and has a thriving community facility in the Soccer5s complex, which is open and doing an excellent trade.”
Next year, the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence will see further developments towards a 130-room hotel, licensed clubhouse, six storey office tower and an aquatic centre, in addition to the training facilities, football administration block, and leisure amenities launched last year.
Mr Turnbull said the Mariners brand was known internationally, having its players sought after by top clubs in Europe and Asia.
“This year also marks the second full year of the Club-s elite Academy pathway, providing gifted local juniors with the opportunity to progress from their grassroots side to the Hyundai A-League and beyond,” he said.
“In order to consolidate the Club-s position as Australia-s top nursery for football talent and build upon the impressive achievements made by the franchise since its foundation in 2004, Central Coast Mariners FC are currently assessing a range of additional investment options to underpin its strategic growth plan moving forward.”
Over the past few months, the Mariners have been contacted by a number of groups expressing an interest in investing in the future development and expansion of the organisation. These expressions of interest include the possibility of direct investment from local and foreign consortiums and individuals, as well as the option of an initial public offering (IPO) which would see the Mariners as the first publicly owned football club in Australia.
