<p class="title">Former Ireland striker Andy Keogh blasted Usain Bolt as having "a touch like a trampoline" on Friday while the coach of the Central Coast Mariners refused to say whether he believes the sprint star can make it as a footballer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Keogh, who plays for Perth Glory, said it would be a "kick in the teeth" to footballers if the eight-time Olympic champion earns a professional contract with Australia's Mariners.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 32-year-old Jamaican, who retired from athletics last year, has been on trial with the A-League club since August but contract negotiations have stalled and he is no longer training.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported this week that Bolt's representatives were initially seeking Aus dollars 3 million (USD 2.1 million) but the Mariners have offered closer to Aus dollars 150,000.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mariners have said it appears unlikely the Jamaican will sign unless a third-party agreement can be found to deliver him more money.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Keogh, who used to play for Wolves and Cardiff, was blunt in his assessment of Bolt's footballing prowess.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He told Fox Sports the 100m world-record holder had a touch "like a trampoline" and that "he's not going to be able to make it".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's nice to have the attention on the A-League but him playing in the A-League, that's not for me," said Keogh, who made 30 appearances for his country.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's shown a bit (of potential) but it's a little bit of a kick in the teeth to the professionals that are in the league."</p>.<p class="bodytext">He added that "if there's someone who genuinely thinks he'd be a good football addition, I don't think they should be in a position to make those calls".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mariners boss Mike Mulvey was peppered with questions about Bolt at a press conference on Friday, batting most of them away.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's no update. He's not at training and I'm just concentrating on the lads I have here," he said, insisting the Bolt saga was not a distraction.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pressed on whether Bolt had the ability to make it as a footballer, he replied: "I'll say this one more time -- my focus is on the game on Saturday and on the players contracted for the Central Coast Mariners and that is how it should be."</p>
<p class="title">Former Ireland striker Andy Keogh blasted Usain Bolt as having "a touch like a trampoline" on Friday while the coach of the Central Coast Mariners refused to say whether he believes the sprint star can make it as a footballer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Keogh, who plays for Perth Glory, said it would be a "kick in the teeth" to footballers if the eight-time Olympic champion earns a professional contract with Australia's Mariners.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 32-year-old Jamaican, who retired from athletics last year, has been on trial with the A-League club since August but contract negotiations have stalled and he is no longer training.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported this week that Bolt's representatives were initially seeking Aus dollars 3 million (USD 2.1 million) but the Mariners have offered closer to Aus dollars 150,000.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mariners have said it appears unlikely the Jamaican will sign unless a third-party agreement can be found to deliver him more money.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Keogh, who used to play for Wolves and Cardiff, was blunt in his assessment of Bolt's footballing prowess.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He told Fox Sports the 100m world-record holder had a touch "like a trampoline" and that "he's not going to be able to make it".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's nice to have the attention on the A-League but him playing in the A-League, that's not for me," said Keogh, who made 30 appearances for his country.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's shown a bit (of potential) but it's a little bit of a kick in the teeth to the professionals that are in the league."</p>.<p class="bodytext">He added that "if there's someone who genuinely thinks he'd be a good football addition, I don't think they should be in a position to make those calls".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mariners boss Mike Mulvey was peppered with questions about Bolt at a press conference on Friday, batting most of them away.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's no update. He's not at training and I'm just concentrating on the lads I have here," he said, insisting the Bolt saga was not a distraction.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pressed on whether Bolt had the ability to make it as a footballer, he replied: "I'll say this one more time -- my focus is on the game on Saturday and on the players contracted for the Central Coast Mariners and that is how it should be."</p>