Showdown Looms On The Gold Coast

The long term simmering unrest between Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer and Football Federation Australia may well come to a head this week.  In a week that has seen a series of bizarre twists at the troubled club today has now seen Palmer launch a startling tirade against the game and its governing body as well as demand that the FFA meet certain criteria for him to continue to funding the club.

Clive Palmer, I Don't Even Like The Game
FFA Respond, But No Sanctions For Palmer
Palmer Ransoms Players Futures On FFA Feud

The three links above pretty much cover the action today with Palmer starting proceedings with a rant akin to a spoilt child about how bad the A-League and soccer in general are.  He sinks the sword in the FFA, particularly CEO Ben Buckley.  The FFA respond with  measured 'this is out of order' response but no punishment. At this point another story emerges that Palmer is holding off contract talks with the club's players until the FFA begin meeting his demands, chiefly

• Allow him to move games to the home of Southport Tigers rugby league club where he plans a $250,000 upgrade.
• FFA meet the full breath of the club's wage bill rather than the current 50% commitment that all clubs receive.
• FFA assists in marketting the club.
• FFA helps Palmer avoid paying out former players Peter Perchtold and Robson despite findings of an independent arbitrator that he severed their contracts without due reason.

Basically Palmer wants an A-League licence with the right to play at a substandard ground, pay virtually none of the costs and have carte blanche to terminate the contracts of players at will.  Needless to say it is almost certain that the FFA will not agree to these demands, though they may be willing to make a couple of tactical concessions. The stadium move might be a workable concept, but not unless a much more significant upgrade of facilities is done.  The proposed investment would be akin to putting up a  garden shed in your backyard.  If Palmer can come up with an alternative venue that has the necessary sponsor, media, lighting, access and playing facilities, and come provide a plan to meet future growth, then I think it might be worth entertaining the idea.  The FFA could also be prepared to work with the club in the marketting area to try and improve their attendance problems, but I can't see them being prepared to even entertain the other demands.

What is pretty detestable is that the players now seem to be caught in the middle of this stoush between Palmer and the FFA.  Regardless outcome of these talks I doubt too many players will now be prepared to stick around.  James Brown has been the first player to blink having accepted a two year deal with the Newcastle Jets.  Rumour has it that players are now putting their homes on the market and are preparing to head elsewhere.

Regardless of what happens in the next couple of days it seems that one person who will not be at the club anymore is coach Miron Bleiberg.  After being suspended this week and labelled 'spectacularly unsuccessful'   he has apparently quit the club.  It is expected that Mike Mulvey will now lead the side through the remainder of its season.

So far the FFA have maintained a softly, softly approach to the issue.  They publicly stated last week that there were issues at the club that needed serious re-evaluation.  It is clear that they don't think it is working but it seems that they and Palmer have significantly different ideas about how it can be fixed.  Palmer, as we can expect from a serial litigator, has threatened the FFA with legal action numerous times.  I dare say the FFA are doing all they can to stay out of court but what they do about the club is another matter.

To me there doesn't seem to be a lot of future for the club.  I dare say their last few attendances will be pretty small now, though we could see some protests.  With Palmer at the helm the club genuinely has no future.  If new owners could be brought in to buy him out then maybe it could be turned around, but its a longshot now as so much damage has been done.  To be honest the most obvious move now is to shut down the club and bring in a new team in another area, most likely western Sydney.  But the problem remains how to get Palmer out.  He has the licence for another two years.  Any attempt to take it back will certainly be met with legal action.  If that is the case then the FFA must clearly articulate how Palmer has failed as a licence holder to meet his obligations.  

Stay tuned this story is far from over yet.