The Central Coast Mariners’ signing of Luis Garcia signals the next chapter in the great marquee debate which follows the A-League around like a shadow.
The Spaniard has played at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in La Liga and Liverpool in the Premier League meaning his marquee status is pretty well deserved.
While this seems like a positive move in multiple areas – the Mariners gain some much needed experience in their young squad, it has generated a lot of buzz amongst football circles and it is expected that his presence will provide some sort of financial boost for the club – there is a lot about this signing that could have less than desirable consequences.
Season 11 of the A-League has seen off field drama dominate the headlines with the actual game suffering from a lull in interest; there was no hype leading up to this season and it has largely failed to capture any sort of positive attention.
This lack of interest brings the football community back to the marquee debate time and time again. The general line of thinking is simple. Interest in the A-League is low. Interest in world football is always high. Bring big name players with experience abroad and mass appeal to the A-League in order to reap the rewards of being associated with said big name player i.e. improved attendances, improved TV ratings, more global attention, more sponsorship opportunities, more incentive for football fans in Australia who don’t support the local league yet to become fans or members and just a general increase in the profile of football in Australia.
Whether you are for or against marquees there are valid points on both sides. Those for marquees always discuss the perceived – and in a few cases very valid – benefits. While those against them use the likes of Mario Jardel and Romario and their unimpressive stints in the league, as well as the arguably gimmicky nature of these kinds of signings, to disprove those benefits.
So it could be cynicism that leads many to believe that Luis Garcia will not benefit the Mariners in much the same way it could be blind naivety that leads other to believe that Garcia will only benefit the Mariners.
Marquees are expected to help improve a club’s situation both on and off the field. So let’s explore Garcia’s potential impact on these areas.
The Mariners’ money troubles are well known. Unfortunately, financial issues in the A-League are not uncommon.
While the problems at the Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar have garnered more media coverage, Central Coast’s precarious financial situation has led to such moves as selling one of their home games to Melbourne Victory, which was played in Geelong, and suggestions of relocation in order to grow their supporter base.
While specific figures are hard to come by it is safe to say the Mariners are incredibly far from the profit-making Melbourne Victory or the teams who are breaking even or posting manageable losses.
Two questions must then be asked. Firstly, how does a cash strapped club suddenly afford a relatively well known marquee and secondly, what do they expect Garcia’s signing to do for the club in terms of finances?
The club itself answered the first question, thanking its major sponsors for their financial help in securing the Spaniard in an article on their website.
As for the second question it is pretty clear what Central Coast want from Garcia. They want an economic boost via increased attendances, increased shirt sales, perhaps even some increase in the number of memberships as well as some sponsorship deals which will use Garcia, in essence, as a bargaining chip.
The issue with what the club wants from Garcia, and what they undoubtedly expect otherwise they wouldn’t have signed him in the first place, is that short term marquees rarely have long term benefits for a club’s finances.
Having only been signed for the remainder of the season, any potential increases would have been most fruitful before the season begun, so as to let hype generate around the team and its opening fixtures. Therefore, any increases in attendance and memberships are most likely to be minute and irrelevant in two to three seasons time.
Moreover, marquee status usually means a marquee pay cheque. As mentioned earlier the Mariners aren’t exactly rolling in the dough. The club will be expecting his presence to somehow cover the cost of his contract as well as, just maybe, having a bit of leftover cash to ease the financial pressure on them.
This is simply unlikely.
It has been suggested, even for all the good Alessandro Del Piero brought to Sydney FC, that he didn’t bring in as much money as he was earning – which has been estimated at being somewhere between $2.5-$4 million dollars – leaving the club worse off.
Naturally, but perhaps unfortunately, big name signings in the A-League are always measured against the Del Piero criteria. There is no doubt that Sydney FC’s marquee man in seasons 2012-13 and 2013-14 was the league’s most influential and, arguably, biggest foreign signing ever.
His two years in the league generated plenty of interest not only in the Sky Blues but in the league itself. Del Piero’s success in the league had more of an influence on the intangibles of football and Garcia will likely have a similar effect. However his signing is likely to have a more damaging effect on the Mariners financially.
A few extra memberships, some shirt sales or tickets at the gate are unlikely to cover the cost of the marquee, while any money from sponsorship deals would not be going solely to the club.
Central Coast must be aware that this move is incredibly risky for any team but even more so for the Mariners and the chances of it paying off are slim.
These factors suggest that Garcia’s signing is one of desperation. They have been criticised for half a season now for their poor results and seeming disinterest in turning them around.
In fact, in the early stages of this season, club owner Mike Charlesworth told SBS’ The World Game: “we are in the entertainment industry and for me that overrides results at this stage,”
“It’s about attacking, entertaining, creating chances and we’ve been doing that.
“…If that means results suffering in short term, then so be it.”
Charlesworth discussed his hopes that this attacking brand of football would boost interest and consequently crowd numbers at the club, but it seems to have had a negative effect with the Mariners currently averaging the second lowest attendance in the league.
Despite this, Central Coast can be commended for taking action. They needed to do something, or at least appear to be doing something which was positive and likely to have a huge impact on the remainder of the season.
And now they have. Mariners’ fans have a renewed sense of positivity and a small sense of pride – afterall their club signed Liverpool legend Luis Garcia.
Turning to on-field matters, Garcia’s signing seems strange. At 37 he’s around the same age as Alessandro Del Piero was during his stint in the A-League. The difference is Garcia announced his retirement from football in 2014.
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While there is no doubting he will be nothing but a help to the Mariners’ young squad, providing invaluable leadership and experience, and will show his brilliance during his time in the league, his presence on the field isn’t going to turn the Mariners’ season around.
One player cannot lift a team from the bottom of the table. And half a season in a league cannot have lasting, positive effects on a club.
Although there are fairy-tale elements to his move, the signing still looks very much like a band-aid solution. Hypothetically, even if Garcia’s stint in Gosford improves performances and finances alike the viability of the Central Coast Mariners in the future will still have question marks over it.
And ultimately long-term stability should always come before borderline irresponsible, short-term quick fixes.
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