Call us cynical, but this looks more like a PR play than anything. News Corp runs an exclusive; the mainstream media outlets pick it up and talk about it; #sokkahtwitter mostly poors scorn on it as being anti-football which was about as predictable as night following day; and FFA can take the high road and look as if they understand football (when they're often criticised for not doing so). Win, win, win, win. 

http://footballtoday.news/football-media-watch/tim-cahill-usain-bolt-matildas

This pretty much sums up the process as reports have confirmed the FFA will not be putting their hands in their pockets to cough up the $900k for Bolt's trial. 

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/a-league/ffa-wont-dip-into-marquee-fund-to-help-central-coast-mariners-secure-sprint-legend-usain-bolt/news-story/4c929833f0f6588b96b0404d8ae230c7

Article states FFA will look at it if he's offered a contract.   Haven't said No

“If, after a trial, Central Coast Mariners decide to offer him a contract, FFA will work with the club on how any deal might be financed.”

The point being CCM/Bolt's Agent asked FFA to help fund the trial, FFA said no. That's as much as we know so far. 

How that quote plays out remains to be seen. 

https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/ffa-called-on-to-back-usain-bolt-marquee-move-498414?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=insidesport_autopost

Not sure why it should 6 weeks. The guy cant play football at A-league level. 

What a silly proposal. They want the FFA to foot the bill if CCM consider he is good enough? 

CCM would just sign him anyway - he would be a player for free regardless of how good he is...

Weren't the Mariners and sponsors paying for at least 70% of his salary, if he gets a contract offer that is? That what a previous report stated. Sponsors were queuing up to throw money at Bolt. 

Shouldnt take more than 6 minutes to be honest.

Yeah. He got a three week trial at Dortmund after an initial 2 day training session but this is the A-League.

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

This is absolute marketing gold. Anyone complaining is either dumb or insane and certainly doesn't have the league's best interests at heart. 

More like comedy gold, amrite?

Well they are getting marketing through the comedy produced 😉

Fuck me, that's hilarious.    :laugh::laugh::laugh:

What do you suggest next then ?

Mark Viduka 6 week trial.

Sign him. It will be fun and would provide a lot of publicity. Ratings and crowds would initially go through the roof whenever he played. Then when he proves hopeless, quietly bench him and send him on his way a few weeks later. It will have been an entertaining and worthwhile PR stunt.

Or he could unexpectedly turn out not to be terrible, in which case the outcome is even better for everyone concerned. No one loses with either alternative. 

Oh wow,  if after all this the mariners miss out because they announced too early I'm going to laugh my ass off 

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/global-football-clubs-join-sprint-for-bolt

Hahaha I can’t beleive my eyes!

There are clubs actually willing to hand him a contract without a trial in Turkey, Hungary and the US.

Hold on

Central Coast Leagues Club has an all you can eat Seafood buffet , only $22.60 on Saturdays and $26.80 on Sundays

marketing gold that not even optus wants to be apart of haha

Can't wait for all the eggs on faces when he finishes with 10+ goals and CCM break 10k average.

Any one else get the feeling this is completely bullshit, I have a feeling its his agent spreading lies about these imaginary clubs after him just to get Mariners to quickly sign him up. 

:laugh::laugh:

This will confirm its the worst league in the world.

Imagine the transfer fee

CCM must immediately offer a 5 year deal

Well done to the FFA for not helping to fund this. It is fine for publicity alone but has no footballing merit, any Marquee coming here need to be both iconic and show a higher footballing pedigree. Not sure I like Rallis demanding the FFA help fund this. It would only take one foray into actual footballing before it dies down Del Piero, Kewell and Yorke could back it up on the pitch which drove increased interest.

100%

OTOH he'd be a massive signing for the AFL. 

Wonder if we'll see a headline stating "Soccer Slammed! Bolt Lauds Sherrin!"

Quick, shut all those joke leagues down. Surely they would have consulted with RBBAnon first?