Usain Bolt is on the verge of sealing a deal to trial with the A-League's Central Coast Mariners, the Australian club said yesterday, as the sprint legend pursues his dream of playing professional football. Eight-time Olympic champion Bolt, 31, who retired from athletics after August's World Championships in London, is an avid Manchester United fan who has long dreamt of playing top-flight football.

Training in full swing
The 100m and 200m world record-holder trained with Norwegian club Stromsgodset last month and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in March. The planned arrangement will see him take part in a six-week trial starting next month at the Mariners' base in Gosford, some 75 kilometres north of Sydney, chief executive Shaun Mielekamp said. A season-long deal could follow if it goes well, he told commercial broadcaster Channel Seven. Football agent Tony Rallis, who has been working on the deal, told Sky Sports Radio's Big Sports Breakfast yesterday it has been agreed "in principle... subject to a couple of benchmarks".