USAIN Bolt will continue his football education with the Central Coast Mariners in Australia after turning down Valletta FC’s two-year offer and deciding against a move to Malta.

Bolt remains in Australia, still on trial for the Central Coast Mariners in search of an A-League contract, but he received an offer earlier in the week to play for Valletta FC and spearhead their Champions League aspirations.

But Bolt’s agent has confirmed he opted against taking up their offer.

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“There is a lot of interest in Usain playing football,” Ricky Simms told ESPN. “We regularly receive similar approaches. I can confirm Usain does not wish to pursue this opportunity in Malta.”

Valletta FC CEO and managing director Ghasston Slimen told ESPN: “We wish Usain Bolt all the best with his football career. The Valletta FC offer is always on the table.”

Newly-named captain Matt Simon says Bolt has made immense strides since arriving at Central Coast but is refusing to shed light on whether the Jamaican superstar will remain at the A-League club.

The Mariners have shut down talk of Bolt signing a contract before their season opener against Brisbane on Sunday as the eight-time Olympic gold medallist continues to trial for a spot.

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Bolt trained with the reserves during the Mariners team session on Wednesday but suddenly, after his two-goal performance in a trial against Macarthur South West United at the weekend, the question has shifted from will Bolt earn a contract to will he stay?

“I’m not too sure with what’s all happening with Usain. It’s probably a question for the CEO,” Simon said after the media was banned by chief executive Shaun Mielekamp and coach Mike Mulvey from asking questions about Bolt. “It’s not a distraction at all. He’s been here for a couple of months now so everywhere we go with Usain, everyone’s talking about him so it’s just been down to business.

“We’re concentrating on the season and just looking forward to round one and putting into practice what we’ve been doing at training for the last 12 weeks.”

Simon, who has played somewhat of a mentor’s role to Bolt, conceded the former world’s fastest man — now classified as the Central Coast’s fastest man — had been a morale booster for Mariners after a couple of lean seasons.

“Look, he’s been great to have around the change room,” the skipper said. “He’s done well. The improvement that he’s had over the course of the eight or nine weeks that he’s been here has been immense.

“The boys have enjoyed him being here.”

But asked if he could see the 32-year-old forcing his way into the squad at any point during the 2018-19 season, Simon was non-committal.

“That’s a question for the hierarchy of the club. It’s above my pay grade unfortunately,” Simon said after admitting Bolt’s brace against Macarthur South West United was impressive.

“Obviously you can see the difference in the standard of the game (between Saturday’s trial and the A-League) but it’s no discredit to him. He’s gone out and done well and he scored two goals.

“So it’s a credit to him to go out and do that and I think everyone hasn’t stopped talking about it.

“So good on him and we move on to round one.”