The club's owner Mike Charlesworth claims he's losing more than a million dollars a year, and with 20 percent of the Mariners members living in Sydney's northern suburbs the players understand a business decision may have to be made.
“We're not in charge,” Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey told SBS.
“It’s up to Mike and he's got a business to run and if he's haemorrhaging money and he thinks he can save it by doing that [relocating], it’s his decision and it’s not for us to question.”
Although the Mariners have ruled out a permanent move to North Sydney, if the North Sydney Oval stands are filled with football fans next month the experiment may be continued.
"I think it’s all up to the fans,” North Sydney Council Mayor Jilly Gibson says.
“It’s all up to those that love their footy, come along and support this game and if it’s a success we'll have more games I'm sure.”
The now defunct Northern Spirit attracted big crowds to the venue in the late 1990's so there's clearly an appetite for the game in the area.
The Mariners will study the off-field success of the Phoenix match before any decision on future games there will be made.
But the local council is eager for more A-League football.
"We'd love more games, we love to see our oval used as much as it can, “ Mayor Gibson says.
“I think its Sydney's most beautiful oval and it looks fantastic when there's a capacity crowd there.”
Football Federation Australia confirmed today its happy for the December 19 match to go ahead, but that the North Sydney Oval requires significant investment to become a permanent A-League venue.
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