Socceroos great Kosmina labels Mariners 'graveyard of the A-League'

Former Socceroos captain John Kosmina has hit out at the current state of Central Coast Mariners, labelling them "the graveyard of the A-League".

Antony Golec of the Mariners looks dejected after getting beaten by Adelaide United Source: Getty Images

After a bright and busy pre-season, heightened by the arrival - and distracting dismissal - of Usain Bolt, the Mariners are still without a win through seven league games this season.

Mike Mulvey's men failed to fire against Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night and sit rooted to the bottom of the ladder as a result, already six points adrift of a finals spot.

Such woeful form has led Kosmina to question both the culture at the club and their place in Australian domestic football.

"Mike Mulvey talks a lot about their mindset but I think it goes deeper than that, it’s something now that’s endemic in the club," Kosmina said on Fox Sports' Sunday Shootout. 

"It’s just been a succession now of failed seasons and they probably suffer from this - there’s no punishment for failure. 

"They can afford to chop and change, they go the minimum spend, they do it on a budget, it’s like cheap as chips for football. If they want to be a decent team they have to invest. 

"The Mariners now are almost like the graveyard of the A-League - it’s where you go when you’ve got nowhere else to go, a last resort and that’s sad to say."

Despite luring the likes of Tommy Oar, Ross McCormack and Kalifa Cisse to the club, Bolt's departure prior to the start of the season may have hindered squad harmony more than Mulvey would like to admit.

Looking to end a horror-run of five straight losses, the Mariners face Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.