Gold Coast United miss Wanderers A — League clash due to ‘embarrassing’ lack of stadiums

GOLD Coast United officials say the club’s drawn-out search for a permanent home has become “embarrassing for the city” after the forced cancellation of their clash with a top A-League club.

GOLD Coast United chairman Danny Maher says the club’s drawn-out search for a permanent home has become “embarrassing for the city” after Western Sydney Wanderers were forced to cancel their pre-season clash with the Surfsiders last week.

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Still without a permanent home a year on from their rebirth, United were due to face the Wanderers in a closed-doors hitout at Runaway Bay Super Centre on Tuesday night before the field — damaged by rugby fixtures days earlier — was deemed unplayable 24 hours out from the game.

With the 2012-13 A-League premiers already staying on the Coast at RACV Royal Pines, United officials were left red-faced when they were unable to find another suitable venue.

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L-R Sports Gold Coast chairman Geoff Smith and Gold Coast United chairman Danny pictured in Southport. The pair are behind a push for a 5000-seat stadium on the GC. Maher Picture Mike Batterham

The club has been in prolonged negotiations with Gold Coast City Council to find a permanent base, with the NPL outfit training out of Carrara Sports Precinct and playing home matches at Robina’s Station Reserve.

While they hope to have an answer from Council on a possible move to Tallebudgera’s Coplick Family Sports Park by the end of next month, Maher said the situation was damaging the city’s image.

“It’s very frustrating. We know at the top level of Council we have good support but it just takes a long time for the wheels to turn,” Maher said.

“It’s embarrassing for the city. This is the biggest sport in the world, (the Wanderers) are the best supported team in Australia and we just can’t host them.

COAST COULD HAVE 5000 STADIUM IN 18 MONTHS

Ryan Kitto of United is challenged by Brendan Hamill and Josh Risdon of the Wanderers during the Round 27 A-League match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, April 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng)

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“It was extremely difficult to put the game on in the first place because there just aren’t the facilities on the Gold Coast. We had a Chinese team (Wahun Zall) over here in January and the average salary per player was $1 million, which is obviously bigger than any A-League team, and we didn’t even have anywhere for them to get changed.

“The Brisbane Roar would like to play us every year in a pre-season match and we have nowhere to play them.”

United chief executive Troy Bingham said leasing their current playing headquarters was a financial double whammy, with the club unable to erect sponsorship signage or maximise canteen sales.