The Mariners were linked with the player a couple of months ago but Central Coast executive chairman Lyall Gorman denied the link at the time.

"Maybe for Asia we'll have a look around, but certainly in regards to the A-League, that's where we're at," he told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time.

But now au.fourfourtwo.com understands the Gillespie move is back on the radar as the Coast looks to strengthen their side.

Central Coast have lost Mile Jedinak to Turkish club Genclerbirligi at the start of the month while former Fulham winger Ahmad Elrich is not due back till the end of February, effectively ruling him out of the A-League finals.

The Mariners squad has space for new signings and are very much in the hunt for the A-League title. And they have a fighting chance of qualifying in Asia after being drawn with Japan's Kawasaki Frontale, China's Tianjin Teda and Pohang Steelers of South Korea in the ACL group stage.

This season, 33-year-old Gillespie has largely been out of favour at Bramall Lane and would be a fantastic addition to the A-League club's Asian Champions League campaign, which kicks off in March.

Gillespie was a youth player at Manchester United around the same time as Melbourne Victory's Grant Brebner in the early-mid 90s.

But the Northern Irishman made his name at Newcastle United where he played between 1995 and 1998 making 113 appearances. The aggressive winger followed that with five years at Ewood Park up until 2003.

Gillespie has 86 caps for the Northern Irish national team, which places him fourth on the all-time highest for his nation. He is still a vital cog in the side in its current World Cup qualification campaign.

The Northern Irish next play San Marino away on February 11.

Gorman continues to deny any link with the player.