Earlier today Sydney quashed reports they had signed Aloisi but admitted they are in talks with the Socceroo hero.

Sydney today revealed they are keen to bring the striker to the Harbour City to bolster their attack force for next season.

Now the Mariners have announced they have cut their links with the star.

"The Central Coast Mariners wish to advise that John Aloisi has concluded his contract with the club effective today," said a club statement.

"Over the past month, the club has been in discussions with Aloisi’s management with a view to exploring the opportunity for John to continue his career with the Mariners.

During this process, the club tabled a major offer using its very best endeavours to secure Aloisi’s services well in excess of what the player had been offered for the recently completed season.

During discussions with Aloisi’s management, it became abundantly clear to the Mariners of the earnings Aloisi could generate from other clubs, both in Australia and particularly overseas."

They added: "After a lot of soul searching and as a result of this process, the club advised Aloisi’s management a fortnight ago that it would not be in a position to increase its offer to Aloisi.

"[We] further agreed that it would stay silent on the matter until such a time as the player had completed negotiations with other clubs."

Mariners chairman Lyall Gorman added: "The Mariners wish to state that John has been an incredible ambassador for the club and the Central Coast region both on and off the field.

"His stay at the Mariners has taken the club’s professionalism to new levels while, in addition, significantly enhancing the Mariners’ profile in the global football market place.

"At the end of the day, the club had to weigh up a decision to increase the offer made to John while measuring such an impact against the future financial certainty and viability of the club.

"Regrettably that decision was to withdraw from negotiations with John and in so doing wish him and his wonderful family every success possible in their future endeavours while always leaving the door open for him to return to the Mariners in the future should the opportunity arise.

"Players of John’s calibre both as a footballer and a person come along very rarely and the club is both proud and honoured to have shared the partnership it has with John over the past season.

"The club and the region will be a better place for John and his family having been there and hopefully the club has also played a role in not only in bringing John back to Australia while he still has so much to offer, but in also contributing to the enhancement of the brand of the Hyundai A-League overall in having done so."

Aloisi was on a short-term contract at Central Coast Mariners after the Gosford club pulled off the coup of the season by signing the out of contract star as a short-term injury replacement for Matthew Osman midway through the season.

Management at the Mariners had hoped to sign him up as their marquee star for next season after the retirement of current marquee Tony Vidmar.

On Wednesday, a source at the club told au.fourfourtwo.com: "We don't have any challenge from any Australian club.

"No-one in Australia will offer a better deal than what we are offering."

But the source admitted: "We can't match what he might get in Europe, US or Japan though."

The Mariners were still confident of getting Aloisi to sign a contract though as the star had spent most of last year looking for a club in Europe without success, either falling short on money or lifestyle.

The club believed Aloisi was delighted with the conditions at the club and lifestyle on the Central Coast, and had done enough to persuade him to stay at the Mariners if he remained in the A-League.

But this morning Sydney issued a statement confirming they were close to snatching the star from under the Mariners' nose and hoped to have a deal done soon.

"Sydney FC is speaking with Socceroo John Aloisi about the decorated striker joining Sydney FC for the 2008/09 Hyundai A-League season and beyond," read the statement.

"Negotiations between Sydney FC and Aloisi’s management are progressing well and are at the advanced stage. Contrary to rumours, no contract has been signed."

The club added: "Sydney FC is hoping to be able to finalise the negotiations in the very near future and an official announcement will be made if Aloisi signs a contract to play for Sydney FC.

"No further comment will be made on this issue."