Gold Coast united in A-League ambition

GOLD Coast United is back from the dead and ready for an A-League return when the chance presents itself, according to the club’s chairman.

The defunct club will be resurrected next year as a new entrant into the National Premier League (NPL).

Not-for-profit business group Sports Gold Coast has orchestrated the move, brought about by the merger of Gold Coast Athletic and Gold Coast Galaxy.

These two new franchises were to have joined the new second-tier National Premier League next year.

The merged entity has instead convinced Football Queensland to take back those licences and issue Gold Coast United with a single ticket into the men’s and women’s NPL competitions for 2018. The long-term goal is re-entry into the A-League as an expansion outfit, or via a promotion-relegation system if it comes into play.

“People are saying thank you, they’re saying that finally there is a club that represents the city and are asking when the trials are,” said Gold Coast United chairman Danny Maher, a tech entrepreneur and the founder of Opmantek. “We’ve got the NPL license. Now the focus is on being successful at that level and being ready if the opportunity comes (to re-enter the A-League).”

All local clubs on the Gold Coast have automatic membership in the new entity, which will be pitched as a community-focused, grassroots club that will aim to keep player registration costs as low as possible.

“We are proud to bring United back in a communitydriven model and unite the sport on the Gold Coast,” Maher said.

“United, we can achieve amazing things.” Selections for junior teams through to the elite will be done on a trial basis, with a strategic plan set to be rolled out in coming months.