Football Gold Coast chairman Paul Rushton says southeast Qld men’s league ‘worth considering’

FOOTBALL Gold Coast chairman Paul Rushton says the formation of a southeast Queensland men’s competition is “worth considering” as local teams continue their FFA Cup dominance over Brisbane rivals.

FOOTBALL Gold Coast chairman Paul Rushton says the formation of a southeast Queensland men’s competition is “worth considering” as local teams continue their FFA Cup dominance over Brisbane rivals.

The Coast’s impressive run in the national knockout competition continued in Round 5 at the weekend, with Burleigh Heads and Coomera downing NPL outfits Western Pride and Redlands United respectively, and Surfers Paradise thrashing Brisbane Premier League side Grange Thistle 5-1.

With fellow Gold Coast Premier League team Palm Beach also through to Round 6, the Glitter Strip’s success has not gone unnoticed.

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Rumours of a southeast Queensland league – an amalgamation of Coast, Brisbane and possibly Ipswich and Sunshine Coast teams - have risen following the launch of the Queensland Premier League last year, with the new competition putting a major player drain on the BPL.

With Coast sides Broadbeach United, Southport, Robina City and Coomera this season joining an expanded Brisbane Women’s Premier League, Rushton said the concept of a men’s equivalent had some merit.

Surfers Paradise’s Zack Kallinikos during March’s 9-1 FFA Cup rout of Brisbane Knights. Picture: Mike Batterham

“There’s been some casual conversations (about it) but no formal discussions or planning,” Rushton, who is also Robina City president, said.

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“The BPL has been weakened significantly by the introduction of the QPL. Whether it would be worthwhile looking at a merger of the men’s (leagues), as with the women’s, definitely it’s worth considering. The difference with the women is the number of competitive teams was diminishing.

“I’ve been to some of the FFA Cup games and quite a few of the BPL teams have been belted by the Gold Coast Premier League teams, so that’s been surprising. What it does show is that Gold Coast football is a lot stronger than some people thought.”

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NOTABLE FFA CUP RESULTS

ROUND 2

Coomera 4-0 vs Virginia United

ROUND 3

Coomera 3-0 vs Acacia Ridge (BPL)

Southport 5-2 vs The Lakes

Robina City 7-1 vs Centenary Stormers (BPL)

Surfers Paradise 9-1 vs Brisbane Knights (BPL)

ROUND 4

Burleigh Heads 3-0 vs Albany Creek (BPL)

Surfers Paradise 6-1 vs Maroochydore

Coomera 4-2 vs Ipswich Knights (QPL)

ROUND 5

Surfers Paradise 5-1 vs Grange Thistle (BPL)

Burleigh Heads 3-1 vs Western Pride (NPL)

Coomera 6-5 vs Redlands United (NPL)