Reports have claimed the Mariners have serious cashflow problems which could have seen them struggle to even pay player wages this month.

Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull today admitted the club was facing "issues" but insisted they were no different from any of their rivals.

"Every A-League club has financial issues," he said in a statement released by the club today. "So does almost every football club around the world.

"Football is not an immediately profitable business. It is a constant balancing act, one where we are carefully managing competing financial requirements. That’s the reality that all of us in 'the football family' are faced with.

"But the Mariners are no worse off than any other club. In fact, quite the opposite. We have set the national benchmark in laying community foundations.

"We have stayed true to our ethos throughout our history and continue to sensibly build the club towards sustainable growth."

He admitted the Mariners are looking for new investors to pump cash into the club's future, with ad tycoon John Singleton said to waiting on the sidelines with his chequebook.

"The A-League as a whole is always looking for investors!" said Turnbull. "Indeed, I invested into the club four years ago, and then Mike Charlesworth invested last year.

"When the League is in its formative years, we need fresh capital on a regular basis. We want people to buy into this club to assist in delivering the vision that we all want."

He added: "Let me assure you, our current position is similar to that of most sporting bodies.

"We spend a lot of money supporting our core product of entertaining football and community integration. We work tirelessly to support that with commercial revenue streams.

"There are financial considerations to make – but we have a bright future and what I can state is there is no doubt that the Mariners are staying in for the long haul."