Gold Coast A-League franchise

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Gold Coast United FC
Full name	Gold Coast A-League franchise
Founded	2008
Ground	Skilled Park, Robina, Queensland (Capacity 27,000)
Coach	Miron Bleiberg
League	A-League

The Gold Coast's pending Hyundai A-League team is an association football (soccer) franchise, first known as Gold Coast Galaxy FC but is now Gold Coast United FC.

1 Consideration for 2008/2009 League
2 Consideration for 2009/2010 League
3 Likely facilities
4 References

[edit] Consideration for 2008/2009 League

The consortium under the working title of "Gold Coast Galaxy FC", led by real estate magnate Fred Taplin was, along with North Queensland Thunder, was considered for admission for the 2008-09 season but Football Federation Australia delayed expansion of the league until at least the 2009-10 season.^[1] ^[2] The Galaxy was strongly expected to join in the 2008-09 season along with North Queensland Thunder, expanding the league to ten teams. Although the Galaxy bid appeared to have good support, the Thunder bid appeared much less secure, particularly after a major financial backer pulled out of the franchise on March 5, 2008. The FFA determined on 11 March that neither team would be granted entry "in the best interests of the league," given that a nine team format was generally unfavoured.

During the off-season prior to the 2008/2009 season a number of players were touted to join the club and it made some tentative signings, including former Queensland Roar manager Miron Bleiberg^[3], goalkeeper Scott Higgins,^[4] and former Wellington Phoenix Brazilian player, 'Felipe' (Felipe de Souza Campos). Without entry into 2008-09 season, the players became free agents and can still sign for the 2009-10 season depending on the terms of their next club contracts. The franchise was also linked at times with signing Nwankwo Kanu as their "marquee" player^[5].

The name 'Galaxy' was an interim name and it was always undetermined whether or not that name would be used by the club as a permanent name. Galaxy was said to have have ties to American Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy, which would have meant pre-season warm-up matches and possible player sharing opportunities. Indeed, in February 2008 there was even talk of David Beckham turning out for a pre-season match^[6] The Galaxy consortium had planned to market the club deep into Northern New South Wales, down to Coffs Harbour.

[edit] Consideration for 2009/2010 League

Gold Coast United FC logo

Once the FFA had decided not to have new franchises in 2008/2009, the focus turned to 2009/2010. The Galaxy consortium's chances of entering the A-League were dealt a severe blow in June 2008 when a rival consortium headed by real estate and mining billionaire Clive Palmer entered talks with the FFA^[7]. On June 3, 2008, Fred Taplin announced that the Gold Coast Galaxy had dropped out of the race for the Gold Coast licence and a place in the A-League 'in the interests of football'^[8]. The same day, FFA chief Ben Buckley confirmed that the Palmer consortium had succeeded in securing the franchise ^[9]. On June 6th, Palmer signed a provisional agreement with the FFA to field a team in the 2009-10 season. The press conference was held at Skilled Park, further reinforcing the suggestion that the new franchise will play at the 27,000 capacity stadium. ^[10]. Palmer bragged that he would build a side capable of winning the League in its first season^[11].

[edit] Likely facilities

The club would most likely play out of the new Skilled Park stadium. The Galaxy franchise had proposed that the club's colors be yellow and blue, similar to the National Rugby League's Gold Coast Titans.^[12]