The Greek Herald understands that a formal application has now been submitted to the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) for former Sydney Olympic FC President Damon Hanlin to acquire the Central Coast Mariners.
When contacted by The Greek Herald, the APL acknowledged the process but declined to provide further detail.
Recent resignation from Sydney Olympic FC
The development follows Mr Hanlin’s recent resignation as Director and President of Sydney Olympic Football Club Limited (ABN 98 118 512 968).
In his public statement, he said: “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down from my role as a Director and President of Sydney Olympic Football Club Limited ABN 98 118 512 968 effective immediately.”
Just weeks earlier at Sydney Olympic’s 2025 AGM, Mr Hanlin had outlined that the club was entering a period of structural and operational change, signalling the need for new leadership involvement and wider participation in managing the senior football program.
These comments framed the club’s transition into a different operational model prior to his resignation.
Hanlin steps into central roles across Mariners’ entities
In September 2025, Mr Hanlin was appointed director, secretary and sole shareholder of Central Coast Mariners Football Club Pty Ltd, a newly established private entity associated with the Mariners.
The following month, in October 2025, he was appointed as a director and secretary of Central Coast Mariners Football Club Foundation Limited, serving alongside existing Mariners representatives Gregory James Brownlow and David Raymond Slade.
These appointments place Mr Hanlin in key roles within the newly formed Mariners corporate structure ahead of the proposed change in ownership.
His appointments also come during a period of heightened attention around the Mariners’ internal operations, with recent months marked by public discussion of external influence on football decision-making and the involvement of both Mr Hanlin and former Sydney Olympic head coach Labinot Haliti in aspects of the club’s sporting direction.
While these developments did not confirm any change in ownership, they contributed to growing scrutiny around the club’s governance ahead of the formal application now under review.
Governance considerations under A-League rules
Under A-League governance rules, any proposed change of club ownership is subject to a formal assessment by the APL, including requirements around financial capacity, ownership transparency, integrity, and conflict-of-interest management.
A consideration for the APL may be that, while Mr Hanlin resigned from the board of Sydney Olympic Football Club Limited, he remains the sole director, secretary and shareholder of Sydney Olympic Soccer Club Pty Ltd, a separate proprietary company that continues to operate within the club’s broader framework.
At Sydney Olympic’s 2025 AGM, Mr Hanlin also spoke about the club’s need for “separate structures” and indicated that different operational arms of the organisation may require new leadership or distinct management arrangements.
Viewed together, Mr Hanlin’s overlapping positions across Sydney Olympic-related entities and his recent appointments within newly formed Mariners companies create potential conflicts of interest the APL would be required to examine as part of its standard ownership and integrity review.
The APL has not provided a timeframe for determining the application.
