Football Gold Coast to consider addition of Merrimac to 2019 Coast League One competition

MERRIMAC’S return to Football Gold Coast competition could be confirmed as early as next week, with the governing body to discuss the club’s potential entry into this year’s Coast League.

MERRIMAC’S return to Football Gold Coast competition could be confirmed as early as next week, with the governing body to discuss the club’s potential entry into this year’s Coast League One.

The Bulletin understands Merrimac, who have not fielded a team since 2017, have submitted an enquiry to FGC about the possibility of joining the 11-team, second-tier Coast League.

That request has been met with a number of questions from FGC, including where the club would draw its players, coaches and committee members from, as well as whether the proposal has the full support of the Italo-Australian Club.

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If all goes to plan, a response to those questions will be submitted by the end of the week, with the FGC board then scheduled to meet on Monday.

While that meeting could yet be postponed, it is understood there are few barriers to the club’s return.

Gold Coast Premier League action between Merrimac and Palm Beach at the Italo-Australian Club in 2015. Picture: Regi Varghese

FGC general manager Damien Bresic said a decision on Merrimac’s immediate future would need to be made by early next month, adding the inclusion of another Coast League team would eradicate the need for a bye when the season kicks off on March 8.

“For sure (it’d be good to have Merrimac back). Merrimac have been one of our powerhouses and it’s a great facility there,” Bresic said.

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“From a promotional aspect, it’d be great to have them back, as well as from an historical point of view.”

Merrimac withdrew all teams from FGC competitions in 2018 after the Italo-Australian Club signed a contract with the Oak Tree Group to develop a 94-unit retirement village on the land home to Tony Cecco and John Benigno fields.

Football Gold Coast general manager Damien Bresic.

However, the collapse of the deal late last year, which followed an overhaul of the Italo-Australian Club board, ignited hopes of a Merrimac resurrection.

Italo-Australian Club committee member Bruno Tomasov, who has been given the task of bringing football back to the famous site, was unavailable for comment today.

However, the former Merrimac coach and long-time club supporter told the Bulletin late last year that he hoped “Lazarus will rise again”.

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“Merrimac have a rich history (since 1979),” he said at the time.

“Thank god (we have saved) a sporting field from being a building site. The forefathers and members built the Italo-Australian club to be a sporting and recreation facility.

“In my humble opinion, the Italo-Australian Club will not survive without football. It is like pasta without sauce.”