Gold Coast United declare intentions for W-League bid as well as A-League

NOT only do Gold Coast United see their women’s football ambitions as central to their bid to return to the A-League, they are plotting to make a simultaneous splash in the W-League.

Gold Coast United men’s and women’s vice-captains James Coutts and Eloise Fryer. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

NOT only do Gold Coast United see their women’s football ambitions as central to their bid to return to the A-League, they are plotting to make a simultaneous splash in the W-League.

United’s announcement on Thursday focused on the men’s side of their club but chairman Danny Maher made it crystal clear just how prominently the women’s game features in their outlook.

“In line with the FFA’s announcement to release two new A-League licences for season 2019, the board of Gold Coast United resolved last week to enact on our plans and bid for an A-League licence for season 2019,” he said.

“At the same time as bidding for a men’s A-League licence, we will also bid for a W-League licence.”

Many had expected a W-League licence to come first for United but Maher assured the “two absolutely go hand-in-hand”.

“It’s not just a men’s sport,” he said.

“We don’t believe that a licence should be issued to any club that is not interested in pursuing both the women’s and men’s version of the game.”

Maher praised the success of competitions such as AFLW for bringing women’s sport in Australia along in leaps and bounds.