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Wednesday, 10 February 2010

Australia News Gold Coast's Glitzy A-League Entry

GOLD Coast United are now in the A-League with billionaire owner Clive Palmer flying in by private helicopter to Skilled Stadium today to sign an FFA agreement to play in the A-League in 2009/10.

To see today's press conference at Skilled Stadium...

And he vowed to make the Gold Coast a football capital by winning the A-League in their first season in 2009/10.

“There's great community support to have a Gold Coast team in the A-League. And secondly, we have a great package to offer players. Obviously on the Gold Coast the lifestyle, flexibility and something's happening here," he said today.

“We want to make this the soccer capital of Australia. We will try and win the A-League in the first year of the competition and the Asian Cup [Asian Champions League].”

That licence, he added, had some minor issues but the A-League's newest impressario signed the document in front of a packed press conference.

Palmer added in relation to Gold Coast Galaxy, when it appeared that bid was falling short, he decided to come in and “act decisively”. The mining tycoon revealed the idea of him bankrolling the club came up three months ago.

“There was no war [between Galaxy and United]. We just wanted to try and make sure everyone is a winner and the Gold Coast is a winner by having the A-League on the Gold Coast."

The club has a provisional logo and at this stage it will play in the same colours of the NRL club the Titans, blue and yellow (signifying the gold coast's iconic status for sea and sand).

“We've got a great product here,” Palmer added. “Good coaching, stadium, climate and if we do win the A-League we will bring in extra players to compete internationally.”

To see today's press conference at Skilled Stadium...

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