Field saga not over Board infighting hurting Merrimac

INFIGHTING on the Italo Australian Club board continues to hamper Merrimac’s hopes of a Football Gold Coast return as their future rests in Gold Coast City Council hands.

Still dreaming of a fairytale homecoming to Tony Cecco Field, the football club committee were hopeful of a council decision last month on an application to build retirement units at the Italo Australian Club, home of Merrimac since 1976.

However, council has now pushed that date back to March-April as it considers reshaping an area zoned for sport and recreation.

Hopes of killing the development application, which had almost 1000 signatures against it on a petition lodged with council, had been heightened following the departure of several influential members on the Italo Australian Club board.

However, the Gold Coast Bulletin understands some board members who were eager to see the application fail are now undecided.

“The club is still battling within themselves and the committee,” a source, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Bulletin. “Some are making out like they don’t want the (application to proceed) but then behind closed doors are saying something else.

“Football and the club have never gotten on there.”

Football Gold Coast general manager Damien Bresic confirmed in August the governing body had kept Merrimac’s licence open and said they would welcome the club back with open arms.

“We’d love to have them in,” he said.

“They have been one of our strongest clubs for more than 40 years. As far as Football Gold Coast is concerned, we will do whatever we can to make sure they come back.”

With their Glennon Park home out of action, Nerang have struck a deal with the Italo Australian Club to use the Merrimac field over the off-season.