With crowds down in Gosford and losses mounting, Charlesworth – who rescued the club from extinction with a $4 million cash injection 20 months ago – said he was no longer prepared to keep funding the Mariners unless they were allowed to expand south where he plans to stage several ‘home’ games at North Sydney Oval in 2015-2016.

Discussions have been on-going with CEO David Gallop and a business plan has been presented to the governing body.

After 18 months of talks North Sydney Council last week committed to a stadium upgrade to further aid the Mariners' cause.

"The model of playing all our home games on the Coast just doesn't work and I am not willing to finance that forever," said Charlesworth who expects to lose at least $1 million this season.

"Nobody is interested in buying a share of the club in its current form, so the options are to either expand south or move altogether to another city which would be such a shame.

"Our primary goal is to remain firmly on the Central Coast and based out of our wonderful centre of excellence but playing games at North Sydney should be a vital part of our business plan going forward.

"It's a question of playing a few games a year in North Sydney or potentially not playing any games at all – that's ultimately the choice.

"We need a model that works and no administration in the last 10 years of this club's history has achieved that, the club was over $4million in debt when I took over last year.”

"The FFA is listening to us and giving us an opportunity and it's up to us to show it can work."

The club is hoping to attract a crowd in excess of 10,000 for Friday week’s one-off visit of Melbourne Victory to North Sydney Oval as proof to the ruling body of the Mariners viability in becoming Sydney FC’s newest noisy neighbour.

"The game against Melbourne Victory is important strategically for us and I am sure we’re going to deliver a great event," said Charlesworth.

"It’s going to be a football party and I think it will attract fans from all over the city – not just Mariners and Victory supporters. It's going to be a fun night out.

"Yes, Sydney FC may have some reservations – and they have made that clear in the past. However, I believe more competition in the Sydney market is healthly.

"Look at the example of the Wanderers whose arrival has boosted interest in Sydney FC and galvanised their own supporters. Statistically the Sydney market is much bigger than Melbourne in terms of those who play and watch the game on TV.

"That, to me, shows you can justify a third presence in Sydney."

Sky Blues chairman Scott Barlow earlier this year expressed his opposition to any expansion by the Mariners into what he sees as Sydney FC territory just eight kilometres from Allianz Stadium.

But Charlesworth insists the Mariners could go under if they remain entirely on the Central Coast where average crowds have slipped from 9,374 to 7,619.

The break-even figure at North Sydney is around 6000 as opposed to 10,000 in Gosford and the announcement of the club's north shore academy earlier this month in a tie up with Northbridge FC – in addition to its A-League game against Wellington in Sydney last December – underlines its desire to build a supporter base in Sydney.

"It’s our ultimate goal to have 4-5000 fans from Northern Sydney travelling up to watch games in Gosford and hopefully making a weekend out of it," Charlesworth said.

"We can be the best tool for economic regeneration of Central Coast tourist industry. Ultimately we are based on the Central Coast – and that's not going to change - but other dynamics need to be in place, so it’s important that our supporters get behind us fully and support the campaign.

"To have a presence in Sydney is something which can make us a viable entity and secure the club's future."

One key criteria in the Mariners’ advance is the North Sydney Oval upgrade.

"It’s something which the FFA has quite rightly insisted upon and we have ticked that box," the Central Coast owner said.

"The lighting will be improved, and a number of other changes to the stadium will be completed over the next year or so."

Charlesworth insists, other than keeping the club alive, he is intent on "adding value to the A-League".

"Unfortunately we are consistently bottom of the TV viewing figures across the league, few people outside the Central Coast watch us on TV so we provide less value commercially today to the the FFA than other clubs.

"Playing games in Sydney can significantly change that dynamic as its by far the biggest TV market across the country."

Charlesworth also has doubts over possibly moving the club to other areas such as Wollongong, Sutherland shire or west Brisbane and said: “For me nowhere really stands out.

"It would be far better to play regular games in North Sydney whilst maintaining the Central Coast as our physical and spiritual home."