Tweed United re-admitted into 2019 Premier League following Football Gold Coast decision

FOOTBALL Gold Coast’s contentious competitions saga is over, with the governing body unveiling its plans for the 2019 Premier League.

TWEED United have been given a Premier League stay of execution after emerging triumphant from Football Gold Coast’s contentious competitions saga.

Three weeks after Murwillumbah informed FGC they would be dropping out of the top flight in 2019, the governing body’s six-member board today handed the eighth Premier League license to Tweed.

The Marlins, who were relegated following a playoff loss to Coast League One side Southport in August, were battling for the final place with the Warriors and Musgrave.

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Southport went on to lose the Premier League playoff final to Mudgeeraba, while Musgrave won last month’s Coast League grand final.

In a statement to clubs, the FGC board said they had also considered including all three clubs in a 10-team league or combining the Premier League and Coast League.

Tweed United’s Justin Bradley.

“While all options had their own pros and cons, the board felt that for consistency and in the best interest of men’s football as a whole, especially with the integrity, viability and competitiveness of both leagues (including the reserve grade) it was unanimously agreed that the Premier League should remain as an eight-team competition,” the statement read.

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“Once the size of the division was agreed upon, the difficult task of assigning the remaining place was undertaken. Each (of the three clubs) had an excellent and viable reason why they should be offered the spot and after lengthy and robust discussion where a number of factors were discussed and considered, it was agreed with a majority vote to offer Tweed United the vacant position in the Premier League for the 2019 season.

“We would like everyone to know that this was a tough decision to make, as all three clubs have great potential and any one would have been an asset in the Premier League. Unfortunately, we only had room for one team and we hope that everyone can accept our decision and we can all move on to a successful 2019 season.

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“There will be a promotion/relegation system in place at the end of the 2019 season, with all details outlined shortly.”

This year’s Premier League featured 10 teams but the Gold Coast Knights will step away next season to join the NPL.