Clubs vow to compete

Sharks and Warriors reject reports they won’t rejoin league

PALM Beach and Southport have become the latest football clubs to deny reports they will withdraw from any revised Gold Coast Premier League competition.

The two clubs follow in the footsteps of Burleigh who this week denied they had come to a decision on whether to participate in any revamped competition, despite rumours appearing on social media they would not take to the park again in 2020.

The Premier League was suspended after the completion of Round 2 due to growing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic but clubs and officials remain hopeful the season will continue in some shape later this year.

Palm Beach coach Brett Budwee said Sharks staff and players were eager to play again following an extended lay-off.

“It has never been our intention to not participate in a revamped league,” Budwee said. “Whatever Football Gold Coast put up, we will be involved. We have two teams of players and staff ready to go.

“Some restrictions have been lifted in the past week so things are looking positive moving forward so we’d be happy to play everyone once or whatever they come up with.”

Palm Beach’s soccer club and the licensed club also operate as two separate entities, meaning play is a good chance to resume even if the venue was forced to remain closed.

After recently being promoted to the Premier League following a successful Coast One league season, Southport coach Rob Semple said the Warriors were committed to their Premier League future. “The Southport committee is 100 per cent behind where we are headed this year,” Semple said.

“The only reason I can see us not going ahead is financial as the clubhouse has taken a big hit (being closed) but I really can’t see it and I haven’t heard anything along the lines of us withdrawing.”