Knights in charge at Brisbane

THE Gold Coast Knights will expand their reach into the valuable southeast Queensland player pool after confirming the acquisition of Brisbane Premier League club Brisbane Knights.

Backed by chairman and successful businessman Adrian Puljich, the Carrara-based Knights last week secured their Brisbane counterparts as the third strategic club partner of The Magic Group, which includes Magic United TFA.

The move will help the Knights tap into the Brisbane player market and offer a direct pathway for Brisbane Knights players to the NPL.

Both clubs have strong Croatian ties and Puljich will now work closely with the directors of the Croatian Community Centre Brisbane, based at Rocklea in Brisbane’s south.

“This is of personal importance to me and we want this proud footballing club to be the principal driver behind restoring and strengthening the Croatian community in Brisbane,” Puljich said.

“Further to this, the Brisbane Knights Football Club will immediately benefit from being a strategic club partner of The Magic Group.”

Battlers in Football Gold Coast’s Coast League One in 2015, the Knights have enjoyed a remarkable rise in the ensuing years, highlighted by grand final glory in their maiden NPL Queensland campaign last season.

Director and CEO Adem Poric said the club’s acquisition of the Brisbane Knights would only aid their quest for further success.

“We welcome the addition of Brisbane Knights Football Club to The Magic Group and look forward to developing aspiring young Brisbane footballers seeking to develop their game by exposing them to a genuine player pathway system,” Poric said.