Coast soccer facing change

SOCCER chief Damien Bresic says local football is in “a holding pattern” as some significant forced competition restructuring looms.

With two Coast clubs set to play in the NPL Queensland series from 2019 and the loss of two Coast senior men’s clubs, the flow-on effects are the unknown factors according to Football Gold Coast general manager Bresic.

Gold Coast United FC will replace Gold Coast City in the NPLQ next year and will be joined by reigning Premier League champions Gold Coast Knights in 2019.

The Knights will play 2018 in the Coast Premier League which has been expanded to 10 teams with the promotion from Coast League 1 of Tweed United, Mudgeeraba and now Nerang, who are in for Magic United.

United alerted FGC they will no longer be fielding senior men’s teams to concentrate on their junior operation and Merrimac have completely withdrawn all their sides.

Bresic conceded there is an air of uncertainty over the next few years with so many changes going on.

“We don’t know what effect the NPLQ will have on us, we don’t know the impact of the loss of Merrimac and Magic will be – plus what effect the Commonwealth Games will be,” Bresic said.

The 2018 Premier League line-up will be Gold Coast Knights, Broadbeach, Burleigh,

Murwillumbah, Palm Beach, Surfers Paradise, Tweed United, Mudgeeraba, Coomera and Nerang.

Underpinning it will be Coast League 1 with Kingscliff, Pacific Pines, Runaway Bay, Southport, Musgrave and Robina joined by teams from Broadbeach, Palm Beach and Mudgeeraba.

But in 2019 it has been decided to run a one-tier 15-team competition to settle on an eight-team Premier League and a six-team Coast League 1 in 2020.

“There is also the possibility of new clubs coming in,” Bresic said.

“There will not be any promotion or relegation at the end of the 2018 season,” Bresic said of the speculation going on.

“Right now, 2018 will almost be a holding pattern.”