United loses immunity
FOOTBALL Queensland has put the onus on North Queensland United ( NQU) to be immediately competitive in its debut National Premier League ( NPL) season, stripping the club and Cairns FC of a two- year security blanket from relegation.
And FQ bosses will meet with the NQU board in Townsville next week to help address the issues affecting the club after the recent departures of coach Ian Shaw and president Sirio Bertucci.
NQU and Cairns were initially given a two- year exemption due to issues with building sufficient junior rosters.
But Football Queensland issued a statement yesterday confirming only first team results, and not the under- 18s and under- 20s, would count toward promotion- relegation, making the exemption void.
Football Queensland chief operating officer Richard Grif- fiths said the move was designed to make the system more consistent.
It removes the buffer zone NQU initially had to prove it’s up to the task of being competitive in the NPL.
NQU and Cairns FC will field only first team sides in the NPL, with all junior players in the to play in the local leagues.
“We feel the promotion- relegation that we’ve introduced will incentivise the NPL clubs up there to ensure they are competitive and not be com- placent, and we’re confident that will be the case,” Griffiths told the Townsville Bulletin.
“We have to protect the integrity of the competition and ensure all clubs are striving to be the best they possibly can be.”
Asked if Football Queensland was confident of NQU’s long- term stability given the recent front office turmoil, Griffiths said: “We’ve been in dialogue with the remaining board members over the last couple of days and it’s our in- tention to come to Townsville early next week to help navigate through some of the issues they have, and to try and have comfort around what the best way to move forward is for the benefit of the game in Townsville. There’s a bit of work to be done given the state of flux up there at the moment.
“We recognise the importance of the pathway in Townsville and also Cairns. There’s been some recent challenges and we’re cognisant given recent events we have some face- to- face meetings to delve more deeply into the issues.”
The Townsville Bulletin has reported NQU board member Glenn Mintern recently stepped down, but it is understood three more directors have also pulled the pin.
The club is also advertising for a general manager and searching for sponsorship deals to keep it afloat.
“We just need to make sure there’s a sustainable model up there that can provide certainty for the players and the most important thing is ensuring there’s an operating model that ensures its ongoing stability,” Griffiths said.