Football Gold Coast general manager says Premier League will remain at eight teams in 2020
FOOTBALL Gold Coast general manager Damien Bresic insists the Premier League will remain an eight-team competition in 2020 despite Mudgeeraba’s withdrawal and a season marred by lopsided scorelines.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FOOTBALL Gold Coast general manager Damien Bresic insists the Premier League will remain an eight-team competition in 2020 despite Mudgeeraba’s withdrawal and a season marred by lopsided scorelines.
As champions Burleigh Heads, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach United and Coomera prepare for the start of finals this weekend, Bresic said there were no plans to alter the eight-team structure introduced this season.
Newly-relegated Tweed United collected just one point this year, conceding 103 goals – including 10-1 and 11-0 defeats - and scoring just 13 en route to the wooden spoon.
FOOTBALL GOLD COAST RESPONDS TO SEQ PREMIER LEAGUE TALK
Mudgeeraba fared little better, with their three wins all coming against Tweed in a campaign that also featured 10-0 and 8-1 losses.
The Wallabies were due to face Coast League One runners-up Southport in a Premier League playoff, but the club earlier this month confirmed they would step away from next season’s top flight to focus on a grassroots rebuild.
Tweed and Mudgeeraba will now be replaced by Coast League frontrunners Robina City and Southport in 2020.
A drop in Premier League teams – from 10 to eight – this season had previously sparked talk of combining the competition with the second-tier Coast League, but Bresic has all but ruled out that scenario.
ROAR’S REARDON READY FOR COAST HOMECOMING
“Nothing is ever 100 per cent definite but (eight teams) is locked in,” he said.
“I’m comfortable with it and if you see the results this year, we’re probably at a six-team competition level if we want to be competitive. Some people have suggested a (combined) 16-team comp but I’m yet to be convinced that’s the way to go.
“What happens when a Burleigh or Surfers plays (Coast League also-rans) Murwillumbah or Runaway Bay? It’s not like we haven’t considered things like (a combined competition) but I just don’t think there’s enough talent out there.”
While he conceded Mudgeeraba’s exit from the Premier League was not ideal, Bresic praised the club for its courage.
‘THEY NEED A GOOD, HARD LOOK AT THESMEVLES’
“Although I’m not happy with the outcome, I applaud Mudgeeraba for making a tough decision based on what they think is the best thing for the club moving forward,” he said.
“The club considered what is the best way forward for their club to rebuild ... and they just think over the last three or four years they have dropped the ball a little bit. They want to rebuild from the grassroots up rather than the top down.”
BIGGEST GCPL BLOWOUTS OF 2019
■ March 16 - Surfers Paradise def. Tweed United 8-1
■ March 30 - Burleigh Heads def. Tweed United 10-1
■ April 2 - Palm Beach def. Mudgeeraba 10-0
■ May 10 - Surfers Paradise def. Tweed United 10-0
■ August 3 - Surfers Paradise def. Mudgeeraba 8-1
50+ names: Harvey U19 girls players to watch this season
Who will be the key rugby league players to watch from your club this season in the Harvey Norman under-19 female competition? All is revealed here ahead of Saturday’s round one.
Breakout A-League star weighs in on new second tier Championship
Brisbane Roar debutant Austin Ludwik has revealed how the newly announced second tier Championship will radically change the football landscape in Australia. Full details inside.