Fan ownership model supports long-term future for the Central Coast Mariners – as featured on ABC Central Coast

29 January 2026

In an interview with Scott Levi on ABC Central Coast, BCCM CEO Melina Morrison spoke about how a fan‑based co‑operative could support the long-term future of the Central Coast Mariners. The discussion follows the return of the club’s A-League licence to the league and public statements from local MPs David Mehan (The Entrance), Liesl Tesch (Gosford) and David Harris (Wyong) calling for community involvement to be considered as part of any new ownership structure.

Melina said the Mariners now have an opportunity to lead the way in Australia by adopting a model that has delivered stability and strong community engagement for clubs around the world. Examples include FC Barcelona, the Green Bay Packers and the German Bundesliga, where clubs operate with significant member or supporter ownership.

“Smart owners know it is good for the game and for the club to partner with loyal, dedicated fans,” Melina said. “You get higher match day spend, you get more donations and you get local businesses that want to sponsor because they can see the owners are committed for the long term.”

Melina explained that a fan co‑operative can sit alongside private owners through a joint venture structure. Models overseas range from a 5 per cent stake to full community ownership. “It is not a radical idea,” she said. “It is mainstream and it works.”

The United Kingdom now has more than 140 recognised supporters’ trusts that hold ownership stakes in football clubs across the leagues. Their involvement strengthens financial resilience, supports long-term planning and deepens local engagement. Melina noted that fans in co‑operative models do not run football operations, but they do help shape the club’s long-term direction.

“It is about the community turning up and saying we are real stakeholders in the future of this club,” she said. “Being a Mariners fan is a way of life on the Coast, and a fan-based co‑operative is one way to secure the club for the Central Coast forever.”

Melina also highlighted the broader benefits of co‑operatives in local economies. Co-operatives reinvest their surpluses back into the members and the communities they serve. “Whether it is a supporters’ co‑operative or a farmer co‑operative, the model exists to benefit members, not external shareholders. That leads to very different outcomes,” she said.

“For the Mariners, it means any surplus generated is reinvested into the club and the Central Coast. A co-operative strengthens the local base and aligns the owners with the long-term success of the team.”

Melina said the support from local MPs reflects the strong community attachment to the club and the desire to ensure stability through a trusted, member-led model. “A committed new owner, whether an individual or a consortium, will recognise the value of partnering with dedicated fans,” she said. “It is good for the turnstiles, good for sponsorships and good for performance on the field.”

Listen to the full interview

Read the statement from Central Coast Labor members supporting a long-term future for the Mariners

Read the Business Advantages of Supporter Community Ownership in Football (Supporters Direct UK)

Could fans help secure the Mariners’ future? – Central Coast News