Brooks helping Olympic
MICHAEL Brooks, the inaugural North Queensland United ( NQU) coach, will return to local club Olympic FC as an assistant coach but has reaffirmed his desire to head up a new- look representative format next year.
A lack of long- term financial sustainability forced North Queensland Football to hand back its National Premier Leagues Queensland licence after just one season, with the club finishing second last. Male and female teams will compete in streamlined North Queensland- based competitions against Townsville, Cairns, Rockhampton and Mackay, with the local competitions to go on hiatus for those weekends.
The matches will take place on Labor Day weekend in May, June 28- 30 and August 16- 19.
The winners will then clash with the Queensland Premier League men’s and women’s victors on the weekend of October 5- 7 at the northern winners’ home ground.
Brooks said his role at Olympic would allow him to keep tabs on players in the North Queensland Premier League in the hope that he is reappointed NQU coach.
“If they’re happy to give me the role again, I’ll be happy to snap it up and do what I can for NQU,” Brooks said.
“I’m trying to keep myself busy and once everything’s decided, hopefully I can have another dig at the rep job, which will be staged on a limited basis.
“I spoke to them ( Olympic) to see if they want a hand, almost as an advisory role and to help the coaches out, and keep my finger on the pulse with the players.”
It is understood Townsville junior teams will play far more representative games this year as North Queensland Football and Football Queensland focus more on the development of youngsters.
Brooks said the return of NQU players to the local competition would result in a much- needed boost in quality in 2019.
“I think next year is going to be pretty exciting as far as the competition goes.
“It will only help lift the players at the clubs already.”
IF THEY’RE HAPPY TO GIVE ME THE ROLE AGAIN, I’LL BE HAPPY TO SNAP IT UP AND DO WHAT I CAN FOR NQU MICHAEL BROOKS