Could Usain Bolt soon be playing in the A-League?

Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt is in talks to trial for the Central Coast Mariners which could see him playing in the A-League this year.

However, a possible contract deal with the Central Coast club hinges on almost A$1 million (NZ$1.08m) in funds from Football Federation Australia, according to agent Tony Rallis.

​"The deal between the Mariners and Usain Bolt in principle has been agreed, subject to a couple of benchmarks," Rallis told the Sydney radio show Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday morning.

"Mainly, a trial, and of course marquee funds support from the FFA."

GETTY IMAGES Bolt recently played for a Rest of the World XI in Soccer Aid's charity football match for Unicef.

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Rallis told AAP the FFA would need to cough up A$900,000 (NZ$980,000) from its marquee fund of A$3 million if the club decides the sprinter is worth signing for a season

Once the FFA comes back and says that they'll be part of the process, we're going to the trial."

A spokesman for the FFA would not say whether the governing body would contribute to a potential contract.

"FFA is not funding this trial," the spokesman told Fairfax Media.

GETTY IMAGES Bolt warming up during his trial with Borussia Dortmund.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist has been in negotiations for four to five months with the Central Coast club to take part in a six-week trial, Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp said.

"There's still a lot of work to do in regards to understanding exactly how the deal would work out and how things would look, but things are very positive at the moment so we're really excited that looks like a good six week trial period that we'll be able to facilitate," Mielekamp told Sunrise.

"And if all goes well, who knows, he might be lighting up the A-League this season."

GETTY IMAGES Running legends Mo Farah and Bolt tussling for the ball in the Unicef match.

Bolt's Mariners team-mates would include All Whites and former Wellington Phoenix midfielder Michael McGlinchey..

"The most important thing is is that we find a way to see how good he is as a footballer first," Mielekamp said.

AP Bolt wasn't offered a contract after respective trials in Norway and Germany.

Rallis told Channel Nine Bolt was serious about becoming a soccer player.

"He is dead-set serious to be the best he can possibly be. We think that his best will be enough to play or play a part in an A-League competition," he said.

Bolt is the world record-holder for the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints, but retired from athletics in 2017.

GETTY IMAGES Bolt receiving some advice from Manchester United legend Eric Cantona.

Bolt holds world records over 100m and 200m but he retired from sprinting last year after becoming a global star as the world's fastest man during a glittering athletics career.

"I've just done everything I wanted to do in the sport," Bolt told Reuters last year.

The 31-year-old champion sprinter has not commented publicly on the deal himself. In September 2017, he said he wanted to just "be a bum" for a while, but said he was not ruling out a "Floyd Mayweather comeback" and flagged football as a sport of interest.

"Not fighting, no, the sport it could be is football - as a massive Man[chester] United fan, we'll see," he said.

His trial with the Mariners would not be his first run at becoming a professional football player.

In May, Bolt trained with Norwegian team Strømsgodset and he trialled with German side Borussia Dortmund in March, although neither offered him a contract.

GETTY IMAGES Can the Jamaican sprint king make a career from football?

Mielekamp told News Corp Bolt's previous trials showed the track star had potential.

"This is a very real football opportunity, this is not a stunt or gimmick – we want to know if Usain can play," he said.

The Mariners have also just signed former Manchester United coach and assistant manager Mike Phelan as their sporting director, who tweeted his excitement about taking on the job.

Pleased to announce I have taken the position of sporting director @CCMariners. exciting times, enthusiastic people, time to go to work 👍🏻⚽️ — Mike Phelan (@Mike_Phelan_1) July 16, 2018

"Pleased to announce I have taken the position of sporting director @CCMariners. exciting times, enthusiastic people, time to go to work," he wrote.

Phelan, who would be closely involved in Bolt's trial, worked under legendary former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson between 1999 and 2013 during the Manchester club's trophy-laden years.

Bolt recently played alongside All Blacks legend Dan Carter in a charity football match for Unicef in Manchester in June.

Legendary weekend!! Thank you @socceraid A post shared by Dan Carter (@dancarter_) on Jun 10, 2018 at 3:46pm PDT

- Stuff, AAP, Sydney Morning Herald