Palmy coach’s depth worry

BRETT Budwee has been around the Gold Coast soccer scene long enough to have genuine concerns about future competition structures.

Budwee has landed the role of head coach at Palm Beach, taking over from Kris Dodd, and is one of six new coaches at the existing Premier League clubs to go around in an expanded 10-team competition in 2018.

Increased from eight teams this year but missing 2015 champions Magic United, the PL will feature three teams up from second-tier Coast League 1 – champions Tweed United, Mudgeeraba and Nerang.

But Football Gold Coast has decided to have just the one division in 2019 comprising probably 15 or 16 clubs, then work on 2020 structures with the eight top teams in Premier League and the remainder in Coast League 1.

“I’m not too sure about the one league in 2019 because I have concerns about the gap between the top clubs and the lower ones from the second tier,” Budwee said. “It would be the right idea if we had enough strength at all clubs.”

The 2018 season format had been unsettled with the demise of Magic United’s senior teams and the granting of an NPLQ licence to Gold Coast Knights.

At one stage it looked like this year’s champions the Knights would be lost for next year but they will join the

NPLQ in 2019 after a further season in the local Premier League.

“It’s a bit disappointing that the Knights will be leaving because it sort of takes away something from the league,” Budwee said.

Budwee first arrived on the Coast from Sydney a decade ago and his first club was Magic United.

After that it was Nerang, Merrimac, back to Nerang, Robina City as co-coach, the Gold Coast Knights, Gold Coast City and now Palm Beach.

Coast League 1 champions Tweed United Marlins, runners-up Mudgeeraba and Nerang Eagles are all up to the 2018 Premier League from this year’ second-tier premiership.