Bolt set for trial with Australian club

Usain Bolt is on the verge of sealing a deal to trial with the A- League’ s Central

Coast Mariners , the Australian club said Tuesday , as the sprint legend pursues his

dream of playing professional football.

Eight - time Olympic champion Bolt , 31 , who retired from athletics after August ’ s

World Championships in London , is an avid Manchester United fan who has long

dreamt of playing top- flight football .

The 100 m and 200 m world record - holder trained with Norwegian club

Stromsgodset last month and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in March .

The planned arrangement will

see him take part in a six- week

trial starting next month at the

Mariners ’ base in Gosford, some

75 kilometres (47 miles ) north

of Sydney , chief executive

Shaun Mielekamp said .

A season - long deal could follow

if it goes well , he told

commercial broadcaster

Channel Seven .

Football agent Tony Rallis , who

has been working on the deal ,

told Sky Sports Radio ’ s Big Sports Breakfast Tuesday it has been agreed “ in

principle … subject to a couple of benchmarks ” .

“ Mainly , a trial , and of course marquee funds support from (governing body

Football Federation Australia ) , ” he said , adding that the arrangement was not a

gimmick .

“ Once the FFA comes back and says that they ’ ll be part of the process , we ’ re going

to the trial … This bloke ’ s an ambitious athlete . The A- League needed a hero , and

we got superman . ”

Mielekamp said his club had been working on the agreement for four to five

months , and there was still “ some work to do ” .

“ But fingers crossed things might play out , but the most important thing is we

wait to find out and see how good a footballer he is first.

“ If all goes well , who knows ? He may be playing in the A- League this season .”

Mielekamp said reports of Bolt ’ s

performance at the European clubs

he has trialled with have been

“ pretty good ” , and that “ every time

he trains , he improves significantly ” .

“ He has a very good left foot , and

time will tell at what level he is at

and if it fits the A- League … it would

only be big if he could play and go

really well , ” he said .

“ If he comes in and he is not up to

the level, it could have a detrimental

effect .”

Bolt has dominated sprinting since taking double individual gold at the Beijing

Olympics in 2008 .

The charismatic sportsman went on to win a further six Olympic golds and pick up

11 world titles.

The A- League season starts in October .