A-League side Central Coast Mariners have announced that they have agreed a player development partnership with Everton.

The Australian side has said that it is hoping the link-up will allow them to bring in members of the Toffees' Under-21 side on loan to give them first-team experience.

Everton's development co-ordinator, Joe Royle, told the Mariners' website: "We have a long association with Australian players here at Everton, as far back as the 1960s I played with Dennis Yaager in the youth team, and all Evertonians will remember the contribution Tim Cahill made to the club. So we believe this is something with the potential to benefit the club."

Mariners head coach Phil Moss added: "It's fantastic news for not only the Mariners, but the A-League that we've got a real tangible link with an English Premier League club off the back of what Manchester City is doing with Melbourne City.

"It opens up the door to player exchanges and resource sharing between the clubs and the coaching staff and there is hopefully the opportunity for myself and my staff to get over there and study the way they do things."

Central Coast are currently eighth in the A-League table.