Mariners hit back at Manchester United takeover rumours

Really good selection of comments there as well.

I think Ray Gatt’s article sums it up pretty well. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/13/manchester-united-buying-and-relocating-a-league-central-coast-mariners-would-be-a-disaster

The value of the license is not dependent on the existence of fans. It's value likes in the fact that it's a closed league and normal clubs are barred from playing in it. For example, in the last round of expansion, prospective bidders were bidding up to $20 million for a license, but they all had precisely zero fans. So clearly the number of fans a club has does not overly affect the value of the license. The license itself is valuable in its own right, and if a global brand like Man Utd wants that license, none of us should be surprised that they would prefer to be located in what they would view as being global city rather than some backwater. Now you're right that the owners will have a say in approving the sale. It's equally true that they are all cognisant of this key point: they all want to be sure that when their time comes to cash in, no one will stop them. Always trust self-interest, at least you know it's trying.

misconception about there academy. They generally pay absurd money to other clubs teenage players/agents/mangers. Gomulka left us because city offered 30 grand more than we could. they took cassio's son a 15 year old Bernado 18 months ago with a 5 figure sum more than we could afford and his dad the promise of a job with the city group. He was released by city mid week and resigned by us. They are just 2 recent examples of how they continually raid certain clubs (adelaide in particular) for young talented players. city dont develop there own, why would they? when they can take other teams youth with there massive pay masters

cahill didn't exactly get the crowds in did he? that year he was here, it wasn't even there biggest season for crowds

Roberto, Firstly, this breakaway has not resulted in 100% independence. And sale would need to be approved by majority of clubs and then Football Australia, having a vested interest in Australian football, would also get a say. I guarantee they would be opposed to the move. Secondly, what value does a licence hold if no one supports it? Don't for a second think Football Australia cannot step in if Manchester United ruined the club. They've done it numerous times before. The clubs do not own the A-League. They own their licence which is sold by the governing body. Like any business, for example, McDonald's, if the franchisee does not perform and fulfil the set terms and conditions, the franchise can step in and take back ownership.

Cahill scored a ripper goal but in that second season he could barely run for more than 10 minutes and used to get upset that he didn't get much game time. Similar level of entitlement as Kruise as he has zero goals and can barely run but gets frustrated when he gets subbed. Really?

So playing for top spot this weekend for City is not successful :stoked: . City haven't finished near the bottom since they took over. Heart rarely managed a finals appearance.

They would get a football academy with Mariners, but yes, that Adelaide diving academy must have some value to clubs like ManU.

City is playing for top spot this weekend.

Mark, that’s an excellent post that gives the situation true perspective which is often missing when the forum is filled with throwaway lines. I follow MLS quite closely and have watched NYC quite closely. Whilst they have toyed with a marquee or two, they do appear to be intent on finding posts of gold throughout the Americas. I use that term simply as central and South America is full of talent and much of it finds its way to the MLS making some of the football very easy on the eye. I wish we could get more players here from that part of the world to showcase skill first - the rest follows!

As Brainstrust says below, part of the reason for the owners wanting to break away was to have greater freedom in being able to sell their license anytime to whoever they want. The thing they own with the most value is the license to play in a closed league. Man Utd would not want to alienate their 10,000 fans on the Central Coast? Once they own the license, as if they would be worried about that. The actual license is the valauable bit, whether it comes with fans or not is neither here or there.

Yes exactly Buddy. That is the number one goal of CFG's purchase of all these club's around the world, to enable them to make a profit by selling up and coming players from these countries to other clubs, probably not only European in future but elsewhere as well. This is a business to them. There is unlikely to ever be enough funds generated from simply bums on seats and merch sales to make enough to cover investment of the club. That's why City are happy to invest in infrastructure, coaches, and they play a youth team in NPL2 usually of younger players. But are averse to spending big on marquees, apart from Cahill who did'nt really work out in the end. That's why whenever someone makes a comment about the oil money, I just shake my head as another fool who does'nt understand their aims for Melbourne City. Success is good but secondary for them. However, those aims might become more fluid with entry into the Asian Champions Competition. Success there may see City start to take up more Asian players like Tsubaki who has come from Yokohama Marinos, another club with CFG ties. So if Man United purchase CCM then I expect the same aims, success will be less important that the primary aim to recruit and on-sell the best Australian talent. That's why the establishment of transfer fees between the various A-League clubs is so important going forward, it will generate a new income stream for all clubs. So Melbourne City's penchant for picking up Adelaide players (Petrillo's one wood) will at least come with reward to Adelaide or any other A-League club it raids (Tillio, Sydney FC)

Queensland is an AFL controlled state that charges the biggest rents in the country to other teams and have a stadium deal at Carrara where they got the naming rates income on top of no rent , the Titans go broke and need a bail out every other year. Thats why Roar moved to Redcliffe to get away from the AFL controlled state charges. Any move to the Gold Coast is suicidal under the most costly stadium deal per seat in the country, and the second most expensive in total behind Suncorp.

they set a wge standard for the W League that the other clubs have finally caught up to. Besides, their academy, like those of other clubs, needs time. Kids they've worked with since age 14 or younger are only now reaching A League age

Central Coast Mariners owner, Mike Charlesworth has a track record for these types of speculations and rumours. Whilst there may be genuine interest in the club, I dare say the only person pushing for a relocation is Charlesworth himself. Manchester United owners, I suspect, aren't stupid. A complete move away from their location will 100% alienate the existing fanbase. United would create more work for themselves if anything. They would effectively obtain a licence with nothing to it. A common sense approach is required for something as speculative as this. Any deal would also need to be ratified by all other club owners and then Football Australia. It is not going to happen, and if by some chance it does, it would be one of the biggest mistakes made in Australian Football.

Both have “coast” in their title. But, do any sporting teams have longevity on the Gold Coast? Take the NRL, for example. I’ve lost track of the amount of League teams there.

Mooy?

They are not hitting back and saying we are not selling and moving . Lowy would never have tolerated moving the Mariners, Charlesworth is looking for his 30 pieces of silver , and it seems this was one of the big reasons for the conspiracy against Lowy. Adelaide United are the more logical choice they could gain the best diver as well, the difference is the Mariners they could move to the Big Smoke.

The CEO might view it as pure speculation, but to be honest, the buyers wouldn't be talking to him about buying the club. He might know who is talking to the owner, but then again, he may not know.