GALAXY PROBE FINDS LIFE
Pat Mcleod
14Dec07
THE Gold Coast is likely to be handed an A-League soccer licence next month.
The head of the fledgling Gold Coast Galaxy consortium Fred Taplin yesterday confirmed the city was close to being given the green light to host it's third national sporting team.
"The FFA (Football Federation Australia) will be up here for talks in January at which time we are optimistic that we will be given a licence to operate," said Taplin who is listed as the sole director of three Gold Coast companies -- Taplin Investments Pty Ltd, Gold Pages International Pty Ltd and Keyblue Pty Ltd.
The momentum to expand the eight-team A-League and to include the Gold Coast gathered pace following a meeting between the Coast consortium and FFA chief executive Ben Buckley in Sydney on Wednesday.
"That meeting was the culmination of a year's work," said Taplin. "We put an outline presentation to Mr Buckley to make sure our modelling was the kind of thing they wanted and we received a very, very favourable response.
"We were invited to make a formal submission in January. We were led to believe that if the submission is anything like we were talking, a licence is likely to be forthcoming.
"At least we are optimistic that it will be."
In fact the Gold Coast could be asked to field a team in the A-League as early as next year.
"I would prefer 2009 because that gives us more time to build a fan base and promotion, which is a very big aspect of what we are doing," said Taplin. "However, we will be guided by the FFA. If they say it is 2008 or nothing, then we will field a competitive team regardless and we will make it entertaining and good for the fans.
"It was difficult to gauge what the FFA's time frame is.
"Of course all of this is subject to the other A-League clubs agreeing.
"But my advice is that they pretty much support expansion. We are so optimistic that we are going flat out on absolutely everything."
Taplin said the club was already in discussion with player managers and coaches just in case a team has to be gathered for the 2008 season.
"Yes, we're talking to people right now, with managers overseas.
"If it is 2008 then, because of contracts already in place, that cuts in on who we would like. But even if it is 2008 we won't be lacking, we will be competitive.
"As far as the coaching position goes we are in discussion with three or four different people.
"A lot depends on which year we come in, but you will not be disappointed in the names."
In other exciting developments, the club, which will train out of the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre, is hopeful of having a link with David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy.
There are also plans for an international soccer academy at Runaway Bay.
Taplin would not reveal who else was behind the bid or the financial specifics, but boasted that the franchise would be successful 'from the word go'.
"Until the FFA get the full submission I can't comment on who the people behind the bid are," he said.
"I can say that they are very prominent Gold Coast businessmen, very prominent.
"If the FFA did not like our financial model, as drafted, they would not have given us the encouragement to carry on.
"Money is not a problem. We believe our accountants have put together what we believe will be the most successful financial model of any league team at all -- it numbers millions."
The Galaxy have already spoken to the Queensland government over the use of the 27,000-seat Skilled Park.
"We would be disappointed if we did not get around 10,000 there from the start," said Taplin.
"We have no doubt the Gold Coast can and will support this team."