The World Game understand Pain has caught the eye of clubs in England’s Championship and League One.
It is believed Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Peterborough United are all monitoring the 25-year-old.
The trio could make a move for Pain in the January transfer window. Hull is currently home to Socceroo Jackson Irvine, while fellow Aussie Cameron Burgess is on the books at nearby Scunthorpe.
The winger has a UK passport and has made more than 100 A-League appearances. He has represented Australia at Under-20, Under-23 and senior level in the past five years.
This season Pain, who can play on both the left and right wing, has started in every Central Coast game and is off-contract at the end of the season.
He scored in the Mariners’ round one 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar and grabbed an assist in the club’s 1-1 stalemate with Melbourne City.
Born in Hong Kong, Pain grew up in Melbourne and started his career off with Victorian NPL outfit Malvern City as a 16-year-old.
He debuted in the A-League with Melbourne Victory in 2013 at 19 and bagged three goals in 53 appearances for the club. He was part of the Victory side that won the FFA Cup final in 2015.
The forward has strong links to the UK with his grandfather Thomas Casey playing for Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Bristol City in the 1950s and 1960s.
Casey also earned 12 caps for Northern Ireland and helped the Green and White Army to the final eight of the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
In May, after re-signing with Central Coast for another year, Pain said: “I’m really excited to get everything sorted because this is where I want to be.
“We have unfinished business here on the Coast and I think with Mike (Mulvey) coming in he’s set some firm goals – we will be very disciplined next season and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“We’re not shying away from the fact that the last couple of seasons have been lean, next season, come June we’re going to hit the ground running, correct our wrongs and be ready to go in round one in October.
“I want to climb the table – that’s the main thing. Personally, I want to help the team with more assists and goals, I would like a bit more of both. If I can do that and we can all do our jobs I am sure the rest will take care of itself.”
The Mariners have been approached for comment.
