Usain Bolt receives contract offer from Central Coast Mariners – or does he?

The Usain Bolt saga shows no sign of slowing down and continues to be shrouded in uncertainty.

Days after the 32-year-old former Olympic champion rejected the chance to sign a first professional soccer deal with Maltese champions Valletta FC, it appears Central Coast Mariners may have made their move.

Bolt’s agent, Ricky Simms, has claimed the Australian outfit, with whom the Jamaican scored his first goals for a pro team this month, has offered the superstar a deal.

“In response to the media stories, yes, Usain has been offered a contract (by Mariners),” Simms said, as reported by the Associated Press. “I do not want to make any further comment at this stage.”

That’s great, then. Another contract for Bolt to peruse. Except, perhaps not.

Mariners head coach Mike Mulvey has stated that if a deal has indeed been offered to Bolt, he knows nothing about it. Mulvey even went as far as to suggest an attacking line including on-loan Aston Villa striker Ross McCormack may not need bolstering by a man for whom a career in football has been little more than an afterthought.

“You have a look at our front line today and you wonder whether he could get into any of those positions, wouldn’t you?” Mulvey said. “I do appreciate how important this story is for the rest of the world.

“You’re just talking about speculation, I don’t know anything about what you’re talking about and that’s the honest truth.”

Bolt did not play in Mariners’ 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar on Sunday. The club, when asked for an official stance on the former sprinter’s future, told BBC Sport it would not comment on media speculation.

What happens next? Who knows?