Magpies Crusaders United dumped from Queensland Premier League after loss against Rochedale Rovers

The Magpies Crusaders United FC has narrowly lost its chance at the semi-final in what became its last match in the league. With an uncertain future ahead, the club is now regrouping after an incredible turnaround this season.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named former Magpies Crusaders coach Thomas Ballantyne as the coach who made the match betting allegations. It was in fact former coach Brian Murphy who made the allegations. The Daily Mercury apologises for the error.

Mackay will soon be without a senior team in the top football league as the Magpies Crusaders United experienced a double loss in its game with Rochedale Rovers FC.

The match could have been their ticket to the semi-final, but the 3-1 loss was also the club’s last game in the Queensland Premier League 1 after Football Queensland confirmed it would cancel the club’s licence.

Club chairman Barry Jansen says the governing body is neglecting football outside of South East Queensland, with a general meeting planned to come to terms with this last nail in the coffin after such a promising season.

“(Football Queensland) let us know the Monday before our last game and that was just ‘We’re not going to renew your licence’,” Mr Jansen said.

Magpies Crusaders United FC Chairman Barry Jansen at Harrup Park. Photo: Tony Martin / Daily Mercury

“We were the last regional side (or) club running the programs outside of the South East corner.

“I find it absolutely absurd that a governing body can make a decision like it does and give you no reason why they’ve done it.”

It has been a tough few years of poor performance, several new coaches, and unproven allegations of a match betting scandal from former head coach Brian Murphy.

However, 2022 has been an incredible turnaround as the senior men’s team won five consecutive games in June under new head coach Jamie Dunning.

“For a coach to come in and build up a side from rock bottom … to absolutely being in finals contention at the end of the year – and finishing higher than any of the four years before – was a magnificent effort really,” Mr Jansen said.

The Magpies Crusaders have unveiled their new coach, Jamie Dunning. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

Mr Jansen said Mr Dunning moved from Adelaide in April and had been planning to move his family over, but that was no longer happening.

“He’s got no senior side to coach anymore,” he said.

A Football Queensland spokesperson said the governing body had invested $900,000 since 2017 to subsidise MCU’s participation and would increase investment in 2023 towards a Mackay Football Park upgrade.

“The five-year licence period concluding in 2022 ... clearly stipulates no ongoing participation rights as discussed in a meeting with Magpies Crusaders 11 months ago.”

The written statement noted that FQ had increased investment in the Whitsunday Coast region by more than $150,000.

“This is reflected in the highest number of regional players in the Queensland state representative teams on record.”

Mr Jansen said the team was “absolutely shell-shocked” at the news and said the community was coming together for a meeting to discuss what future the club may have.

The club meeting is planned at Magpies Sporting Club on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 6pm.