Central Coast Mariners plunged into limbo after $1m deal collapses. The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has stripped Central Coast Mariners chairman Mike Charlesworth of the club's licence following the collapse of an unofficial ownership deal with Damon Hanlin. The APL, which operates the A-Leagues, has since assumed control of the club in an interim capacity. After ending Charlesworth's 13-year tenure, the APL is set to open a sales process for the Mariners' licence, engaging with several interested parties to secure a new owner. Potential suitors include English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, who are tipped to return to the table after previous takeover talks with Charlesworth collapsed. Under his deal with Charlesworth, Hanlin provided a cash injection of more than $1 million for the Mariners while serving as the club's de facto leader. The APL had been evaluating a proposal for Hanlin to succeed Charlesworth as owner—a process that was contingent on his passing the league's mandatory vetting test. However, the APL never formally approved the bid, and the takeover ultimately occurred while that vetting process was still active. Hanlin's previous business ties and his leadership roles at Sydney Olympic emerged as primary hurdles, stalling the league's sign-off until the deal with Charlesworth collapsed. However, the breakdown of the Charlesworth-Hanlin deal triggered a chain of events that saw Charlesworth formally forfeit the club participation agreement, prompting the APL to terminate his licence immediately. Reports suggest the breakdown was triggered by a dispute over these funds; while Hanlin sought to formalise his ownership after injecting the cash, Charlesworth's decision to forfeit the licence effectively sidelined him. By handing the club back to the APL, Charlesworth left Hanlin as an unsecured creditor rather than an owner, placing his $1 million investment at significant risk. In an APL statement released on Monday, chairman Stephen Conroy announced that the league has taken interim control of the Central Coast Mariners. The APL board is resolute in its commitment to fans and stakeholders to protect the game's best interests, and make decisive action to ensure the ongoing growth, stability and integrity of the A-Leagues. As custodians of the game, we believe it is the best course of proactive action—for the short and long-term interest of the club—to terminate the current CPA (club participation agreement) under the current ownership, and run an expedited and robust sale process to find a new and stable long-term owner for the Mariners. We believe in the value that Central Coast Mariners brings to the A-Leagues. They've shown [that] with the right investment and community engagement, they have a vibrant fan base and a proven ability to consistently compete for on-field success. We are confident that with the engaged local and international interest, we can find the right buyer for the Mariners to take the club forward and ensure their long-term success. The statement also confirmed that Mariners management, including embattled chief executive, Greg Brownlow, would work