Newly crowned minor premier Central Coast is about to discover the price of success as more than half its squad is yet to be re-signed for next season.

In a situation the club would rather not have to deal with just six days before the first leg of its major semi-final against Newcastle Jets, The Australian can reveal 14 Mariners are still negotiating new contracts.

This is on top of doubts surrounding the future at the club of Socceroos striker John Aloisi.

A mid-season signing, Aloisi, not surprisingly, is the target of several big offers from overseas clubs in England, Spain, Scotland, Japan and the US after scoring seven goals in 12 games, sparking the Mariners’ exciting charge to the finals.

The Mariners and Aloisi are in negotiations at the moment with the club keen to sign him as its marquee player for the next two seasons.

Aloisi and his family have fallen in love with the NSW Central Coast and he is keen to stay after spending more than a decade travelling to all parts of the world pursuing his career.

The club is desperate to retain the nucleus of the squad that helped take it to its first title in the A-League.

Despite the awkward situation regarding the amount of unsigned players, coach Lawrie McKinna remains unperturbed.

“Look, it’s fine,” McKinna said during yesterday’s official finals launch in Sydney.

“We are deep in to negotiations with the players and I don’t think there is going to be any problems at all.

“It happens to a lot of clubs at this time of the season.

“Of course, you’d like it to be out of the way as quickly as possible so we can focus on what is ahead.

“But I am sure the players are not too worried, either. They are all still on a high after the weekend.”

As for those who don’t sign, McKinna said he wasn’t too worried.

“If a player doesn’t want to be here then we won’t stop them from going,” McKinna said.

“That’s the business of football. You are better off having players who want to play for you.”

Source: TheAustralian.com