Aloisi leaves CCM

The Central Coast Mariners wish to advise that John Aloisi has concluded his contract with the club effective today.

Over the past month, the club has been in discussions with Aloisi�s management with a view to exploring the opportunity for John to continue his career with the Mariners.

During this process, the club tabled a major offer using its very best endeavours to secure Aloisi�s services well in excess of what the player had been offered for the recently completed season.

During discussions with Aloisi�s management, it became abundantly clear to the Mariners of the earnings Aloisi could generate from other clubs, both in Australia and particularly overseas.

After a lot of soul searching and as a result of this process, the club advised Aloisi�s management a fortnight ago that it would not be in a position to increase its offer to Aloisi and further agreed that it would stay silent on the matter until such a time as the player had completed negotiations with other clubs.

"The Mariners wish to state that John has been an incredible ambassador for the club and the Central Coast region both on and off the field and that his stay at the Mariners has taken the club�s professionalism to new levels while, in addition, significantly enhancing the Mariners� profile in the global football market place," said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.

"At the end of the day, the club had to weigh up a decision to increase the offer made to John while measuring such an impact against the future financial certainty and viability of the club.

"Regrettably that decision was to withdraw from negotiations with John and in so doing wish him and his wonderful family every success possible in their future endeavours while always leaving the door open for him to return to the Mariners in the future should the opportunity arise.

"Players of John�s calibre both as a footballer and a person come along very rarely and the club is both proud and honoured to have shared the partnership it has with John over the past season.

"The club and the region will be a better place for John and his family having been there and hopefully the club has also played a role in not only in bringing John back to Australia while he still has so much to offer, but in also contributing to the enhancement of the brand of the Hyundai A-League overall in having done so."