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Palmer fight a private ownership warning for all sports

Roar Pro
20th February, 2012
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The drama continues on the Gold Coast with franchise owner Clive Palmer threatening a fight with the A-League if his licence is terminated. So what does Mr. Palmer really want?

He is alleged to have said that the game is hopeless and that rugby league is a much better game.

If that is the case then why not put a bid for an NRL franchise? Or was his alleged statement the first indication that he wants to have his own rugby league team in Queensland?

Is it possible that Mr. Palmer is behind the rumoured third Brisbane consortium wanting to enter the NRL? With expansion continuously talked about for the 2015 NRL season, the possibility that Palmer wants his own NRL team could be his motive behind the destruction on the Gold Coast.

Mining magnate Tony Sage has already thrown his hat into the ring for a team in Perth, while another mining millionaire, Nathan Tinkler, has done wonders so far for the Newcastle Jets and Knights.

But with the turmoil on the Gold Coast would the NRL want Palmer involved in any possible expansion?

My guess is no, but stranger things have happened in rugby league. Palmer clearly has no respect for the FFA, and has no respect for Gold Coast fans and football lovers all over the country.

There is no doubt football in this country could be run more smoothly, but it is in pretty good shape considering how the old NSL was run.

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What ever the outcome is for Gold Coast United, I just hope the fans have a football team to support other than the Brisbane Roar. Queensland have already lost the North Queensland Fury and another team booted out could be catastrophic for football in Australia’s fastest growing region.

Gold Coast United may not get many through the gate, but can you blame them? Poor results due to lack of recruitment has cost the club dearly and it is obvious that their owner is looking for a scapegoat in Miron Bleiberg.

Could you imagine the outcry if the same stupidity happened with Nathan Tinkler and the Newcastle Knights? He would be run out of town.

Imagine if Russell Crowe began selecting the Rabbitohs team from Hollywood? The outcry would cause a riot in Redfern.

Not to mention what Collingwood fans would do to Eddie McGuire if he went haywire.

But the difference between the three men above and Mr Palmer is that they are passionate about their football teams. Something all sports need to consider when allowing private ownership into the game.

As sporting fans we all need to get behind the A-League and show our support for the Gold Coast United fans. They may be in their infancy, but it doesn’t make it right to just boot them out and kill football in the region.

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