Mariners sink

The Central Coast Mariners will not enter a team in the Westfield W-League 2010/11 Season.

Due to an inability to secure funding support, last year's third placed side and competition surprise packet will be not have a side for the upcoming season. 

Mariners Chief Executive Officer John McKay.expressed his disappointment.  “Unfortunately we were unable to secure the funding support that we had enjoyed for the first two seasons and therefore we will concentrate our efforts in supporting our local association to further develop Women’s football on the Central Coast."

However, hope was provided for the future of the team.  "We certainly hope that the Mariners would again be able to enter a team in next year’s competition,”

Meanwhile the FFA Head of Women’s Football Leeanne Grantham.also expressed her thoughts.

“A new season presents new challenges to what is fast becoming the prominent, elite pathway for women footballers in Australia,” said Leeanne Grantham.

“We are disappointed that Football NSW and the Central Coast Mariners will be unable to register a team for season three of the Westfield W-League.

The Westfield W-League 2010/11 Season will see seven (7) teams from across Australia compete in the third edition of the competition with Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Canberra United, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory and Sydney FC will all again enter teams.

Statement regarding Westfield W-League (Courtesy Central Coast Mariners)

The Central Coast Mariners have expressed their disappointment at not being included in this season’s Westfield W-League, following today’s announcement of the revamped competition.

“Unfortunately we were unable to secure the funding support that we had enjoyed for the first two seasons and therefore we will concentrate our efforts in supporting our local association to further develop Women’s football on the Central Coast. We certainly hope that the Mariners would again be able to enter a team in next year’s competition,” said Mariners Chief Executive Officer John McKay.

McKay went on to pay tribute to Stephen Roche, who guided the side through the first two seasons.

“Steve, his support staff and the players have done a great job over the last two seasons which culminated in qualification for the semi finals last season. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved and acknowledge the support provided by Football NSW who provided the majority of funding and resources to operate the team.”

“Football is enormously popular on the Central Coast, something that is reflected both in our own crowd demographics and in Central Coast Football’s registrations, and we would certainly hope we could be involved in the Westfield W-League in the future.”