Canberra is in danger of becoming a professional soccer black hole after Capital Football failed to strike a deal to extend a partnership with the Central Coast Mariners.
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Mariners boss Shaun Mielekamp confirmed the club was "exploring other options" just 12 months after the ACT government and Capital Football announced a vision to bring A-League action to Canberra.
The Mariners played two games at Canberra Stadium last season, but attracted just 5497 and 5072 to the fixtures and the Central Coast made a financial loss on the second game.
But they won't return for the 2017-18 A-League season after talks between the Mariners, Capital Football and the government stalled.
Former A-League4Canberra bid leader and Mariners' ambassador Ivan Slavic fears the fans will suffer and the sport may not recover in the capital.
Mielekamp met with Capital Football boss Phil Brown in Sydney on March 28 to discuss keeping the Mariners in Canberra next season.
Mielekamp left the Sydney meeting with the understanding Brown would begin negotiations with the ACT government on behalf of the Mariners.
However, a government spokesperson said no one had made contact about extending the deal with the Mariners. Brown and Capital Football declined to comment.
Mielekamp said he was disappointed the deal would not continue.
"We've had no contact [from the ACT government], we were relying on the relationship with Capital Football so we've ruled out [returning] next season," Mielekamp said.
"We've had approaches from other regions who are excited to have us there so with no communication from ACT government we're exploring those options."
News the Mariners will not return to Canberra comes as business analyst Jeff Williams attempts to launch a bid for a stand alone A-League team in the capital for a planned FFA expansion in the coming years.
The Mariners were keen to forge a long-term relationship with the ACT, similar to the deal with the AFL club the GWS Giants, and set up an elite pathway for Canberra juniors to chase their A-League dreams.
It's believed the Mariners are keen to maintain a presence in Canberra via their pathway systems.
Central Coast were given government funding for one of two games played in Canberra last season. The club opted to return for a second game at their own cost in a bid to prove it wanted the relationship to work.
The small crowds resulted in the club reportedly losing more than $100,000 and Slavich, who has been a passionate campaigner for A-League content in Canberra, hoped top-level soccer would return.
"One of the biggest problems is the Mariners provided all these benefits for Canberra's football community which for whatever reason were not abundantly clear and obvious to government," Slavich said.
"They did a whole heap of stuff that wasn't recognised, the biggest one was capital draft which provided a potential pathway for elite footballers in the region to play for an A-League side.
"Any A-League clubs who want to play in Canberra has to have the support of Capital Football and I think the Mariners would come back if they got that support from them and the government.
"The Mariners were previously here in 2009 so it may be another seven years before they come back, if ever."
Government spokesperson and Active Canberra director Jenny Priest said the government was not responsible for bringing A-League games to Canberra.
"It is not the role of the ACT Government to drive options for A-League content in Canberra next season," Priest said.
"However, the ACT Government remains open to consider any future approaches regarding A-League games in Canberra.
"Any such approach would require the support of Capital Football and the Football Federation of Australia."
