A-League: Brisbane Roar set up Gold Coast training base after dispute with Logan City Council

Brisbane Roar will train on the Gold Coast after leaving their Logan base due to a dispute with council.

Scott McDonald and his Roar teammates will train on the Gold Coast. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Brisbane Roar have moved their training base to the Gold Coast due to an ongoing dispute with Logan City Council over alleged unpaid bills.

The Roar start training on Monday at Carrara, where it’s understood they will use football fields on Gold Coast City Council land across the road from Metricon Stadium, the home of AFL club Gold Coast Suns.

The three-time A-League champions have trained at Logan Metro Sports Park since 2018 after the council invested more than $9 million into the venue’s upgrade.

But the relationship between the parties has turned sour, with the Logan council suing the Roar over alleged unpaid utility bills – mostly water – to the value of $153,714.96.

In August, Roar CEO David Pourre said under a deal struck with previous Logan councillors, the water bills were waived.

In a prepared statement from September, Logan City Council said: “The lease approved by Council and signed by Roar management clearly states that the Brisbane Roar would pay water rates and other charges for the premises, which are otherwise provided rent-free in accordance with the sponsorship agreement.”

Council refused to make further comment on Friday night.

The matter remains in court, with the Roar’s football department having left the premises to set up base at Carrara.

27.12.2020 🗓

Get ready for more of this ✊#ALeague pic.twitter.com/gc36Q8vWS5

— A-League (@ALeague) October 15, 2020

The Roar will also use facilities at the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre, which is also operated by Gold Coast City Council.

The majority of Brisbane’s squad start training on Monday for the new A-League season, which begins on December 27.

But the club’s reigning player of the year, English defender Macaulay Gillesphey, has just started a two-week quarantine period on his return from the United Kingdom.

Roar assistant coach Darren Davies will also spend a fortnight in quarantine after having also just returned to Queensland from Britain.

Roar head coach Warren Moon is set to add ex-Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin Aherne-Evans to his staff.

Moon is also in talks with the club’s goalkeeper coach Jason Kearton about retaining the former Everton gloveman’s services.

Originally published as A-League: Brisbane Roar set up Gold Coast training base after dispute with Logan City Council