Canberra's A-League Men's Team Hopes Revived Through Mariners Sale Potential
The possibility of a Canberra team joining next summer's A-League Men competition remains alive, with the ongoing sale process of the Central Coast Mariners potentially opening doors for the capital city. New Australian Professional Leagues chief executive Steve Rosich has confirmed that discussions continue, despite the recent opening of the January transfer window.
Transfer Window Doesn't Close Canberra's A-League Door
Speaking in his first interview since taking charge, Rosich emphasized that the transfer window opening hasn't ended Canberra's hopes for entering the ALM next season. "Not yet, no," Rosich stated when asked if the transfer window represented a deadline for Canberra's entry. The window opened two weeks ago and closes on February 10, but Rosich believes there's still time for developments.
The APL, which oversees the A-Leagues, identified Canberra and Auckland as preferred expansion cities nearly three years ago. While Auckland FC is already in its second ALM season, Canberra's bid has faced repeated delays. The Canberra Times revealed in December that an investor had been finalized, but the deal stalled just before completion.
Mariners Sale Could Translate to Canberra Activity
Rosich sees potential connections between the Mariners sale process and Canberra's football aspirations. "As we work through Central Coast, what we're working through in a really time-focused activity at Central Coast could possibly translate to further activity with respect to Canberra," he explained. The APL has taken temporary control of the Mariners after previous owner Mike Charlesworth returned the license, with the organization now seeking new ownership.
More than twelve international and Australian investors have already expressed interest in the Mariners, presenting multiple potential options for Canberra's football future. Rosich noted strong engagement from these parties, with organizations having signed non-disclosure agreements and participating in due diligence processes.
Broader Implications for Canberra Football
The situation carries significant implications beyond just the men's team. Any owner of a Canberra ALM side would be expected to also take over Canberra United, the A-League Women's team that faces extinction as Capital Football can no longer afford to run it. The women's team currently sits second on the ladder but faces an uncertain future without new ownership.
Capital Football has confirmed that the current season will be their last in control of Canberra United, raising questions about what happens if the ALM team's entry is delayed further. There had been discussions about ALM owners potentially taking over United a year before entering a men's team, but whether this remains feasible for next summer remains unclear.
Challenges and Milestones Missed
Canberra's football community has watched as another milestone passed with the transfer window opening, raising concerns about whether a team could realistically be ready for the 2026-27 season. Ideally, a new team would begin signing players during the mid-season transfer window to prepare for competition.
The situation mirrors challenges faced by Canberra's bid for a Big Bash cricket team, which has also stalled as Cricket Australia focuses on privatizing existing teams rather than expansion. The financial troubles of the Central Coast Mariners, coming less than two years after they won back-to-back ALM titles, add another layer of complexity to the situation.
Rosich remains optimistic about the league's attractiveness, stating that the investor interest reflects "strong attractiveness, both internationally and nationally" for the A-League. He plans to revisit Canberra's situation in the coming weeks as the Mariners sale process progresses.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Canberra's football future, with the Mariners sale potentially determining whether the capital finally gets its long-awaited A-League Men's team and secures the future of its women's team.
