AusLeisure

The A-Leagues’ Central Coast Mariners have announced Richard Peil, co-founder and Director of the Collective Wellness Group, has joined the Club’s Board as a Director and will take on the role of Chair, pending approval by Football Australia and the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).

Peil, who is understood to be making a significant financial investment in the club, will replace longstanding owner Mike Charlesworth on the Board of the Mariners and the Central Coast Mariners Academy as a Director. Richard Peil joins the club as a board member and is set to be appointed as Chair.

Charlesworth, who saved the Gosford-based club in 2013 before the Mariners won that season's A-League Grand Final, has been looking for a new investor since August 2020.

Charlesworth's decision came after the Mariners claimed four wooden spoons in five seasons but they've since reached the finals in the past two seasons.

With his investment announced just days after the confirming a spot in this year's A-League Men's finals, Peil advised “this is an exciting opportunity at a very exciting time for the A-Leagues, and I am here to help the club be the very best that it can be and ensure that this Academy continues to be the most productive Academy in Australia.

“This is a very unique and special football market with huge potential, especially when you consider that on the Central Coast, football is the number one sport, from grassroots all the way through to the professional level.

“When I first came to the Coast, I was really enthused by the opportunity that exists for football and I also saw how much hard work and history had been established in this globally recognised club. I have already been working closely with Monty (Nick Montgomery), Shaun (Mielekamp) and all the staff at the club and there is an exciting future ahead of us,” Richard added.

“I really want everyone to know that I am putting my own personal investment into the club purely to help the club grow. I really hope that this encourages the whole Central Coast community to get right behind their team again.”

With over 30 years’ experience in the fitness industry, Peil has owned and operated numerous health clubs varying in size from niche 200 member weight loss facilities to his largest club of over 7,000 members.

A co-founder of Anytime Fitness Australia in 2008, in 2015, Anytime Fitness Australia became part of the Collective Wellness Group, an investment and management company that operates a range of fitness and wellness franchises.

Images: Richard Peil. Credit: Central Coast Mariners.

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