CAIRNS FC PLAYERS FIGHT TO KEEP CLUB ALIVE

A “SHELL-SHOCKED” and “devastated” Cairns FC playing group are exploring all options for an unlikely bid to keep an NPL club in the Far North.

The players faced the club’s directors in a lengthy meeting on Wednesday night following revelations the club will cease to exist after Saturday’s NPL game.

While a handful of the more experienced players had an awareness the club was on the verge of handing back their licence to Football Queensland, many only learnt of the decision as the Cairns Post broke the story online on Wednesday morning.

The board fronted the players for over an hour on Wednesday night to explain why they are handing back the licence to FQ and what it means for the region going forward.

Many former FNQ Heat and Cairns FC players have taken to social media to voice their anger and frustration regarding the club’s demise.

Experienced midfielder Crios O’Hare believes the younger members of the playing group, including Jacson Riley, Ryan Cavanah and Harry Corica, will be most affected by the likely loss of the NPL licence.

“It is devastating for us, from the highs of playing Sydney to the next morning finding out there will no longer an NPL team up here,” O’Hare said. “It is more devastating for the juniors, who support the club and then one day may play for.

“Most of us are going to try to work something out to save the club but unfortunately there seem to be people that are not too fussed if there is a club or not.

“It is now or never if we want to save the club and we are trying to get all the information and it is getting support and investment.”

Stewart Carr, father of Cairns defender Nathan Carr, who worked with the club this season in physical therapy, says the situation could have been handled better.

“The players are shellshocked and disappointed,” Carr said.

“The board apologised to us for not telling us face-to-face before the news came out in the Cairns Post.

“They felt that being on a high from the Sydney game was not a good time to tell the playing group.

“It was hurtful for the players not to be told by management or the coach.

“I would have expected the players to be angry but I have not seen any anger in them, they are more shell-shocked and frustrated, especially for the younger players.”

Cairns FC director Shaun Donaldson said the club were keen to finish on a positive note against SWQ Thunder FC on Saturday in their final game.

“The players were disappointed,” Donaldson said.

THE PLAYERS ARE SHELL-SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED. IT WAS HURTFUL FOR THE PLAYERS NOT TO BE TOLD BY MANAGEMENT. STEWART CARR