MERGER PLAN A GAME-CHANGER

Knockout challenge will lift players, says Piddick

FOOTBALL Gold Coast chairman Paul Rushton says it’s “worth considering” a radical merger with Brisbane and other southeast Queensland men’s leagues.

Gold Coast’s continued FFA Cup dominance over Brisbane rivals has sparked further debate about the value of amalgamating several leagues in a proactive move which would change the face of football in the region.

The Coast’s impressive run in the national knockout competition continued in Round 5 at the weekend, with Burleigh Heads and Coomera downing NPL outfits Western Pride and Redlands United respectively, and Surfers Paradise thrashing Brisbane Premier League side Grange Thistle 5-1. With fellow Gold Coast Premier League team Palm Beach also through to Round 6, the Glitter Strip’s success has not gone unnoticed.

Rumours of a southeast Queensland league – an amalgamation of Coast, Brisbane and possibly Ipswich and Sunshine Coast teams – have risen following the launch of the Queensland Premier League last year, with the new competition putting a major player drain on the BPL.

With Coast sides Broadbeach United, Southport, Robina City and Coomera this season joining an expanded Brisbane Women’s Premier League, Rushton said the idea of a men’s equivalent had merit.

“There’s been some casual conversations (about it) but no formal discussions or planning,” Rushton, also Robina City president, said.

“The BPL has been weakened significantly by the introduction of the QPL.

“Whether it would be worthwhile looking at a merger of the men’s (leagues), as with the women’s, definitely it’s worth considering. The difference with the women is the number of competitive teams was diminishing.

“I’ve been to some FFA Cup games and quite a few of the BPL teams have been belted by the Gold Coast Premier League teams.”

HE is the most successful Queensland coach in FFA Cup history and Grae Piddick believes he has uncovered the key to another prosperous run with the Gold Coast Knights.

With two quarterfinal appearances (2014 and 2017) and Round of 16 (2015) and Round of 32 (2018) berths on Piddick’s CV, the Knights have the perfect man to guide them in tonight’s Round 5 battle away to high-flying QPL outfit Coast Wanderers.

Third on the NPL ladder, the Knights have not played since downing Brisbane Roar Youth 3-0 on April 27, with their last cup appearance a 3-0 defeat of Sunshine Coast Fire on April 13. But despite their lack of recent action, Piddick said there were bigger issues for his players to address in their quest for a long cup assault. Sunshine

“It adds a bit of spice knowing it’s a knockout game and teams tend to lift in that situation. It’s just making sure we’re at the top of our game and lifting as well,” Piddick, who took the Knights to the Round of 32 last year, said.

“Every game is must win but we always have that mindset where we want to win every game, whether it’s a cup game or not. It’s having that mindset to play well even when you’re travelling to the Sunshine Coast on a Tuesday night.

“It’s having the big picture and that mentality to win every game you play in.

“If you asked any NPL or semi-professional footballer, they want to be in that cup competition.”

While his squad has returned to full strength amid their enforced break, Piddick said they were wary of a Wanderers side that has risen to third on the QPL ladder.

“We know they’re a pretty good side, one of the best QPL sides. Some of the players in their team have won NPL championships before so we’re not taking them lightly,” he said. “We’re preparing like any other game. We know we’re a good team when we’re at our best.”