A-LEAGUE VISION
United spruik ‘three to five-year’ plan for national soccer return
GOLD Coast United refuse to be haunted by the horrors of the past, with the reborn soccer club revealing plans for a W-League entity and ALeague rebirth “within three to five years”.
In comments to raise eyebrows in some quarters given the shambolic demise of Clive Palmer’s national league franchise in 2012, United chief executive Troy Bingham says his club isn’t content with merely returning to NPL Queensland status in 2018.
United’s reincarnation was confirmed late last year, sparking hope of an A-League return for the Gold Coast. Most in the soccer community, though, expected at least a decade wait before any movement.
Bingham, however, has other ideas.
GOLD Coast United chief executive Troy Bingham says his club is eyeing immediate entry into the W-League, while an A-League return has been pencilled in for as soon as 2021.
Gold Coast’s reputation in the national sporting landscape has copped a beating over the years but the reborn NPL Queensland club is daring to dream again.
United’s re-entry to state league status last year brought with it renewed hope of an ALeague licence returning to the region in the next decade or so.
Bingham, though, has fasttracked designs, with a WLeague entity pencilled in to arrive even earlier in what would be a huge boost to the women’s code on the Coast.
“We think it’s realistic to get into the W-League in the next couple of years,” Bingham told Football Radio National.
“And we are definitely interested in to the second-tier men’s professional competition with the view to getting back into the A-League in the next three to five years.”
It’s a bold ambition but one driven by hope that the damage inflicted by Clive Palmer’s ill-fated reign over Gold Coast United from 2009 to 2012 can be undone with a push towards a community model this time.
“It’s been reincarnated in the hands of community,” Bingham said of the NPL entity.
“We felt (when we decided to restart the club) that football wasn’t heading in the right direction on the Gold Coast.
“We decided we needed an elite player pathway for the entire community.
“We’re kind of like a surf lifesaving club with members; we will never be controlled by one person.”
Bingham stressed despite the past, United’s reputation on the Coast is “quite the contrary” to what most expect.
WE THINK IT’S REALISTIC TO GET INTO THE W-LEAGUE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS TROY BINGHAM
“The United brand is very strong and people love the brand; they just weren’t happy with how it was run previously,” he said.
“There is an abundance of talent down here.”
Bingham also wasn’t shy in predicting a strong 2018 NPL campaign.
“We expect both our men and women to make the playoffs,” he said. “Then obviously to go on and try and win it.
“From day one we said we want a culture of success.”