Eighth team in works for Premier League

IT IS a matter of when, and not if, an eighth premier club enters Far North football competitions, according to Football Queensland North general manager Declan Carnes.

The appointment of Michael Edwards as “senior manager technical – northern club development, talent and coaching” has already been celebrated as a big win for coach education across football community.

But it will also help FQ North identify a potential major shift moving forward: the establishment of an eighth Premier League club.

“We need to identify an eighth Premier League club, and that might mean bringing clubs together to make that happen, as that’s been discussed with Strikers, Redlynch and potentially Saints,” Carnes the said. “Looking at the numbers across Cairns and Townsville, in seniors the numbers are comparative, but we’re about to hit nine clubs in Townsville.

“If the coaching can be improved in Cairns, I don’t see how it would be an issue.”

Carnes’ comments came ahead of a planned FQ North board meeting, at which JCU Strikers’ bid to remain in the FNQ Women’s Premier League competition may be reconsidered. “New information” was said to be behind the decision to ask the board to revisit Strikers’ proposal, which, in the long term, would include a merge with smaller clubs Redlynch Cyclones and, possibly, Saints.

A progression plan with strict criteria would need to be put in place to allow for such a move, although Cyclones and Strikers already have shown a willingness to work together.