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Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque has no issue with the prospect of the A-League’s marquee fund being used to recruit Usain Bolt.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) must tip in around $900,000 from its marquee fund, established to help clubs sign stars capable of boosting the A-League’s profile, for Central Coast to sign Bolt.
The Mariners are still in negotiations with the eight-time Olympic champion.
Central Coast chief executive Shaun Mielekamp is set to fly to London this weekend with high hopes of signing a deal for the mooted six-week trial.
Many pundits believe Bolt would be a poor use of funds from FFA’s marquee pot of $3 million, but Brosque disagrees.
“It’s good. I think it’s great. If we can attract big names, that’s what we want to do,” he told AAP.
“We want bums on seats.
“If someone like Usain is going to do that – provided he can provide something on the field for the Mariners – then I’m all for it.”
FFA is yet to indicate whether Bolt would satisfy the criteria that governs whether clubs can access marquee funds, suggesting they will cross that bridge after a trial.
Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, retired from sprinting last year.
The 31-year-old has already trained with German club Borussia Dortmund, Norwegian outfit Stromsgodset and South African side Mamelodi Sundowns this year.
“He’s obviously trialled in a few different countries around the world,” Brosque said.
“So to have him here and everything he can bring, in terms of media and awareness, would be great.
“The fact he’s trialling is very good. He hasn’t just come here, wanting to sign immediately.
“If he’s good enough, it’d be great to see him on the field. Provided I’m not marking him then all good.”
Sydney FC chief executive Danny Townsend suggested the Mariners’ bid to sign Bolt is not something his club would do, but “anything that’s going to promote the A-League is something we should applaud them for”.
“I wouldn’t suggest it’s a bad decision on their behalf. It’s just not the way we would do things,” Townsend said.
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