Palm Beach ‘disappointed’ with timing of Gold Coast United decision to sign Jackson Boyd

PALM Beach president Duncan McKenna has expressed his disappointment with the Gold Coast United recruitment process that has delivered one of his club’s brightest young stars to the Surfsiders and left the Sharks scrambling for a replacement.

Brent O’Neill

3 min read

June 21, 2019 - 1:20PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

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PALM Beach president Duncan McKenna has expressed his disappointment with the Gold Coast United recruitment process that has delivered goalkeeper Jackson Boyd to the Surfsiders and left the Sharks scrambling for a replacement.

With their focus on tomorrow’s crucial Gold Coast Premier League clash with Broadbeach United, Palm Beach’s preparations were thrown into disarray this week as United chased – and today officially signed – club captain Boyd before the close of the NPL player registration window.

Having already lost back-up glovemen Griffin Bambach (Western Pride) and Tim Lahiff (injury) this season, United’s depleted goalkeeping stocks will take another hit in the coming days when first-choice shotstopper Duro Dragicevic departs to take up a scholarship in the US.

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The crisis led coach Kristian Rees, a former NPL player at Palm Beach, to send an SOS for Boyd, sparking a frantic Sharks search for a replacement prior to Football Gold Coast’s June 30 registration deadline.

Gold Coast United signing Jackson Boyd in action for Palm Beach. Picture: Sport In Digital

Their headache appears to have eased slightly with the likely signing of another young goalkeeper, who is now locked in a selection battle with reserve grade gloveman Jay Hoy for the 4.30pm trip to Broadbeach tomorrow.

While happy for Boyd to be given a chance at the next level, McKenna said United had simply handballed their goalkeeping issues to his club.

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“I’m not angry, just disappointed how it’s happened. The timing is the whole crux of the matter,” McKenna said.

“It’s our philosophy (to develop players for the NPL), we actively encourage it. It’s certainly not about opportunity, this particular instance is about circumstance.

Palm Beach president Duncan McKenna. Picture: Jerad Williams

“(United) talk about engagement of community football and mutually beneficial arrangements (with local clubs). But because the situation at Gold Coast United is closing and apparently they’ve known about Duro for four weeks, how can Palm Beach have possibly been considered?

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“If this had have happened in February-March we wouldn’t have said boo. We don’t have any ill-will to Gold Coast United - we will support them - but the only one with a problem now is Palm Beach.”

The Bulletin understands Palm Beach coach Brett Budwee gave Rees the names of two goalkeepers who were interested in a move to United, but no meetings ever took place.

United now have five former Palm Beach players in their ranks – Boyd, Jason Campbell, Tommy Miller, Tyler Wagstaffe and Justyn McKay – and chairman Danny Maher said it was a delicate balancing act with Coast clubs.

“We need to consider late season changes (to local clubs) but we can’t and shouldn’t close off opportunities for young locals. We do support the local clubs absolutely and will work for them and with them investing in these pathways for all youths at the Gold Coast,” Maher, who also helped bring Logan Lightning’s Zander Guy to the club on Thursday, said.

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“The timing isn’t ideal but the fact Kristian rang (Budwee) first, I don’t think you’d find that with many people. We are going to look at this to make sure we’ve got the best strategy in place to make late-season changes.