Football: Bolt cutters - A-League club shuts out sprint star Usain from training as contract talks fail

Usain Bolt - down and just about out. Photo / Photosport

The attraction has become a distraction.

Usain Bolt, the eight times Olympic sprint champion, has been shut out of Central Coast Mariners trainings while the club tries to find the money to keep him.

Bolt's flirtation with the A-league was seen by many as a publicity stunt by the Mariners. But the PR has turned sour since Bolt was left out of their opening match against the Brisbane Roar.

The club now says Bolt will not attend trainings.

A club statement reckoned: "To ensure that there is no distraction to the Hyundai A-League squad in preparing for this weekend's match vs. Melbourne City; Usain Bolt will not attend team training this week, until and if, the Club and Usain Bolt can agree to terms and formalise an arrangement."

Despite "great progression", the Mariners said the greatest sprinter in history needs more "individual intensive training and competitive game time...the club does not have the luxury to be able to do this in the A-league."

The 32-year-old Jamaican, who quit athletics last year, decided against joining a club in Malta recently. But it has been reported Bolt rejected the Mariners contract offer and a third party contribution will be vital if he is to stay in Australia.