The Central Coast Mariners are proud to announce that the club has recorded its first operating profit for the recently completed financial year in another powerful endorsement for the stability and longevity of the Mariners organisation.
The Central Coast Mariners are proud to announce that the club has recorded its first operating profit for the recently completed financial year in another powerful endorsement for the stability and longevity of an organisation with ambitions to become the centre of excellence for football in Australia.
With an annual turnover of $7 million, this is the first time that the Mariners have been in a position to boast financial gain in the clubs four-year history.
Such a positive off-field return, coupled with the Mariners- most successful Hyundai A-League campaign to date, where the yellow and navy secured a 2009 AFC Champions League berth by virtue of the clubs maiden Premiership success, is the strongest statement yet of the Mariners- unwavering aspiration to become Australia-s premier football club.
Though pleased with their off-field accomplishment, the Mariners are also conscious of the immediate challenges facing all Hyundai A-League clubs, not least through the introduction of two new domestic leagues – the National Youth League and the Westfield W-League, and the recently announced decision to expand the Hyundai A-League to ten teams from the 2009/10 season.
“We as a club and I personally would like to express sincere thanks to each of the shareholders and early investors of the Mariners who had the immense fortitude to commit to such a new venture in a new competition in a sport with very little historical corporate support,” said Mariners Deputy Chairman and majority shareholder Peter Turnbull.
“The Directors and Management of the club have been working feverishly off the field to capitalise on the outstanding on-field success the club has enjoyed to provide solid foundations for the Mariners to prosper well into the future.
“We must also thank each of our sponsors and corporate supporters, who last season contributed some $3 million to our cause.
“Lastly but not least, it is a reflection of the outstanding work of everyone associated with the Mariners, from the playing group, coaching staff and administration to our Members and supporters that we have been able to progress from a concept on a sheet of paper to a turnover of $7 million within three years – a tremendous effort.”
Looking forward, there are several exciting initiatives currently being developed by the Mariners that will be unveiled in due course over the next twelve months.
Planning is advanced for the location and construction of a permanent training and administration base for the Mariners, which will include a world class one of a kind centre of excellence training facility and Academy base, sports science building, offices and ancillary facilities.
Through the Mariners Academy program, the Mariners will continue to offer elite and expanded development training programs for talented players and coaches within the Mariners- network of grassroots associations.
The Mariners Academy will also be expanded to include a program of overseas tours for elite junior players throughout the Mariners- worldwide network of affiliated clubs abroad, including Sheffield United in England, Chengdu Blades in China, Sao Paolo in Brazil and Ferencvaros in Hungary.
“Having been able to turn a profit from a Hyundai A-League team, we are now working to ensure that the same applies after accounting for the new challenges offered by the National Youth League and the Westfield W-League, as well as an increased salary cap and Under 23-s marquee player system,” said Turnbull.
“In that light, the Mariners are continuing to expand the commercial activities of the club in generating non-football related revenue to supplement the operations of a football club.
“There is a lot to look forward to in the short to medium term and myself and our Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman are absolutely convinced that the Mariners will become the centre of excellence for football in Australia and, indeed, we have already taken very significant steps in achieving this ultimate goal.”
Mariners Memberships for the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season are now on sale at www.ccmariners.com.au.
