The Holman Barnes Group (HBG) has officially reached a heads of agreement with the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) to take over the operations of the Central Coast Mariners FC women’s team. This announcement was made on August 4, 2026, marking a significant step for the club as it aims to enhance its women’s football program.

Strategic Partnership

HBG, a community, hospitality, and entertainment organization based in New South Wales, has strong ties to sports, notably through its major investment in the Wests Tigers rugby league team and an equity stake in APIA Leichhardt FC. This strategic alignment made HBG the preferred candidate to operate the Mariners’ women’s team, as they demonstrated the ability to quickly establish operations for the upcoming season and meet commercial requirements.

Investment and Vision

The agreement allows HBG to assume all rights and responsibilities related to the operation of the Mariners’ women’s team. TSG will maintain the club license through the Club Participation Agreement (CPA) and will continue to operate the Mariners’ A-League Men’s side and the club Academy, which includes both men’s and women’s teams.

HBG’s investment reflects a commitment to integrating community engagement with high-performance outcomes. Daniel Paton, CEO of Holman Barnes Group, expressed the organization’s vision to create a sustainable A-League Women’s program that not only delivers elite football results but also fosters long-term participation and development pathways for female players across New South Wales. He emphasized the importance of building a program that enhances participation opportunities and strengthens pathways to elite competition while maintaining the community identity of the Central Coast Mariners.

Ruben Gnanalingam from Total Soccer Growth Holdings noted that this agreement fulfills their commitment to find a credible operator for the women’s team, paving the way for new opportunities for aspiring athletes and contributing to the growth of women’s football in the region.