Women's team snubbed as new owner confirmed for Central Coast Mariners

A new owner has been confirmed for struggling A-League club Central Coast Mariners, in a move that has left the future of the women's team in doubt.

Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG), the majority shareholder of English club Queens Park Rangers, has been confirmed as the new owner, but it only bought the men's A-League team and the club's academy.

Mariners' women's coach Kory Babington met with the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) this morning and was told his services would not be required next season.

He said he knew nothing of the new ownership deal, which does not include the women's team.

"The A-League women come second to the men, so it's no surprise,"

Babington said.

Babington was appointed head coach in August last year and said he was not bitter about the decision to not renew his contract.

"I enjoyed the year with them.

"We move forward."

New owner 'delighted'

In a statement, TSG majority shareholder Ruben Gnanalingam said he was "delighted" to make an entry into the A-League.

"We see Australian football as a major growth area in the sport internationally, and are excited to return Central Coast Mariners to the era of valuing and nurturing young Coasties," Gnanalingam said.

"We appreciate how turbulent and uncertain the last season has been for the club, and we intend to do our utmost to restore energy and enthusiasm for this special football club, both on and off the pitch.

"We were drawn to the Mariners because of its strong community spirit."

APL chief executive Steve Rosich said the search for an owner of the women's team would continue.

"Through the extensive due diligence process it became clear that the operation of the women's team was not able to be included within the new operation with TSG," Rosich said in a statement.

"We've begun working with parties to seek specific investment in the women's team, and we're working to ideally arrive at an outcome on this on or before 31 July to enable the team to operate in the 2026/27 season."

Turbulent time for former champions

The announcement provides some stability for the Mariners six months after former owner Mike Charlesworth handed back the club's license after an attempted sale to former Sydney Olympic chairman Damon Hanlon fell through.

The move left the Mariners under the management of the APL for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

Both the men's and women's teams struggled on the field, finishing 9th and 7th respectively.

It was a fall from grace for both teams.

The women entered the season as defending champions, having won the 2025 grand final against Melbourne Victory.

The Mariners men won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

New buyer welcomed

Central Coast mayor and a former coach of the Mariners, Lawrie McKinna, said he welcomed news of the QPR deal.

"It's great that there's now security and the club can start rebuilding," he said.

"The fans have just been so, so worried."

The Mariners announced the departure of 10 players last week, following the expiration of their contracts.

McKinna said links to QPR could be a win-win for the club.

"It should help attract players to come in from overseas and also provide pathways for local players to play abroad," he said.

McKinna said he remained hopeful that the APL would find a new owner for the women, but said it was an added cost.

"There'll always be a risk, but they've (the women) performed very well, so I'd be confident they'll get someone," he said.

The Mariners men's A-League team is due to face Sydney United FC in the first round of the Australia Cup next month.