News GC17 one step closer

Remove this Banner Ad

CoastBhoy

CoastBhoy

Premiership Player
Veteran
Jul 26, 2001
4,069
97
Gold Coast
AFL Club
Gold Coast
Other Teams
Villa
GC17 one step closerNick Smart

November 18th, 2008

THE AFL Commission has confirmed the GC17 bid team has met its strict criteria but we are still weeks away from knowing whether the Gold Coast has secured the league's 17th national licence.

AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick made the announcement following a meeting in Sydney today.

Have your say on the feedback form below
``The AFL Commission is pleased to confirm that GC17 has met the criteria established by the AFL Commission in April this year,'' he said.

``We commend the enormous effort of GC17, under the leadership of Chairman John Witheriff and his board as they have done everything required by the Commission including amassing more than 42,000 supporters, gaining the backing of 111 businesses, establishing a community engagement strategy, building business plans and beginning the foundations of a strong and successful club on the Gold Coast.''

Although it is looking good for the Coast, Mr Fitzpatrick said the AFL Commission still required good time to make a decision.

``The Commission did not make a final decision today about the licence but has instead asked the AFL Executive to clarify several matters from today's discussion and provide a further analysis and financial modelling of the impact of the new club on the existing competition.

``The Commission will not make a final decision until that process is complete and it has considered and evaluated the reports.''

Mr Witheriff said he was happy with the progress made.

``We are very pleased to have received notification from the AFL Commission today that GC17 has met the criteria and done everything required to establish the 17th AFL team on the Gold Coast,'' he said.

``The Gold Coast community have demonstrated to the AFL that we want our own AFL team and that the Gold Coast Football Club has the foundations for success. ``We understand the AFL still has some work to do before making a final decision on the license and we remain extremely confident of a positive outcome for the Gold Coast.''
 
And the Herald Sun spin it slightly differently. However there is some good news on not having to play all home games at the Gabba.

Gold Coast decision delayed

AAP | November 18, 2008 03:50pm

THE AFL has delayed its decision on whether to grant its 17th licence to the GC17 bid team.

But the league has reacehd agreement with the Queensland government, allowing the proposed new Gold Coast club to play their home games on the tourist strip once they join the top-tier competition.

But the AFL was unable to confirm on Tuesday that their plan to have the new team enter the league in 2011 would go ahead on schedule or that the Gold Coast bid team GC17 had been successful in their licence application.

The club will still enter the under-18 TAC Cup competition next year as planned.

Speaking after a two-day AFL Commission meeting in Sydney, league chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said it was hoped the licence issue would be finalised by the commission's December meeting.

He said GC17 had met the criteria set for them by the AFL, but in the current uncertain economic climate, the league needed more time to evaluate the new team's introduction.

"The commission today did not make a final decision about the licence," Fitzpatrick said.

"It has instead asked the AFL executive to clarify several matters from today's discussion and provide a further analysis and financial modelling on the impact of the new club on the existing competition."

But he heralded the new agreement with the Queensland government, which overrides a previous contract under which a second AFL club in the state was required to play all home games at the Gabba until 2015.

Under the new deal, the AFL will schedule extra games at the Gabba to help recover the costs of the ground's $260 million redevelopment, as well as fitting out new changerooms at the ground.

The new Gold Coast team will play their home games against the Lions at the Gabba until 2015 and will also have the opportunity to schedule other home games there.

The Lions will have the opportunity to stage an additional home and away game at the ground each season until 2020 by making a deal for a another club to move one of their home games.

An Easter Thursday blockbuster game will be held at the Gabba each year until 2020, subject to cricket commitments.

Fitzpatrick said the AFL was in negotiations regarding the development of a stadium on the Gold Coast, but was unable to comment publicly on their progress.

He admitted it was disappointing they were unable to confirm the granting of the licence to GC17 yet, but paid tribute to the group's efforts.

He said they had amassed more than 42,000 supporters, gained the backing of 111 businesses, built a business plan and established a strong connection with the Gold Coast community.

GC17 chairman John Witheriff said his group was pleased with the positive feedback from the AFL.

"We understand the AFL still has some work to do before making a final decision on the license and we remain extremely confident of a positive outcome for the Gold Coast," Witheriff said.
Click to expand...
 

Log in to remove this ad.

CoastBhoy said:
Good news reguarding that Gabba deal , was going to be a fair hurdle to cross for the first couple of seasons.
Click to expand...

Was the deal that was always going to be done.

Great result for everyone involved in footy in SEQ.
 
Father Jack said:
It's now or never AFL. Now or never.
Click to expand...


Nobody procrastinates like the AFL commission. They can take a year to do what anyone else could do in 1 day. This is due to the fact they are incompetent. John Whitheriff knows nothing about footy, yet would clearly do a better job than the fools he's currently dealing with.
 
A couple of other articles from the pieman


Coast still without AFL licenceNick Smart

November 19th, 2008

WE have a well credentialed coach, some of the Coast's best juniors, 42,000 signed up supporters and every box on the AFL's criteria list ticked.

Yet after seven months and countless hours of planning and preparation, the Gold Coast remains without an AFL licence.

The frustrating wait continued yesterday when the AFL Commission delayed a decision on whether to admit the Coast in 2011.

It is believed the main issue affecting the Coast's bid is the same issue the AFL had 12 months ago when they tried to lure the Kangaroos north -- there is still no stadium deal, with the State Government remaining reluctant to kick money into the project.

Have your say on the feedback form below
More AFL news: Local/AFLQ
Read: GC17 team toasts top-class effort

The commission yesterday confirmed that the GC17 bid team had met their strict criteria -- but again, the bid team finds itself weeks away from a decision.

AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said it was hoped the licence issue would be finalised by the commission's next meeting in December.

"The commission did not make a final decision today about the licence, but has instead asked the AFL executive to clarify several matters from today's discussion and provide a further analysis and financial modelling of the impact of the new club on the existing competition," said Fitzpatrick. "The commission will not make a final decision until that process is complete."

There is no doubt the world financial crisis hit at the worst possible time for GC17.

AFL boss Andrew Demeltriou recently warned clubs to tighten their belts, and Fitzpatrick said the global economic meltdown was a factor in the delay. "Anyone in our position has to look at what is happening in the financial world and take it into account," he said.

But in a big boost to the Coast's chances, Fitzpatrick -- with Demetriou -- confirmed the GC17 bid team had exceeded the set criteria issued to them seven months ago.

"We commend the enormous effort of GC17, under the leadership of chairman John Witheriff and his board, as they have done everything required by the commission -- including amassing more than 42,000 supporters, gaining the backing of 111 businesses, establishing a community engagement strategy, building business plans and beginning the foundations of a strong and successful club on the Gold Coast," he said. "It is clear the Gold Coast community has thrown its support behind GC17."

Another positive to come out of the day was significant -- the tearing up of the State Government contract with the AFL which tied a second Queensland team to the Gabba until the end of 2015. Under the new deal, the AFL will schedule extra games at the Gabba to help recover the costs of the ground's $260 million redevelopment, as well as fitting out new changerooms.

The new Gold Coast team will play their home games against the Lions at the Gabba until 2015 and will also have the opportunity to schedule other home games there.

"Obviously the decision announced by the Queensland Government and our organisation today concerning the Gabba agreement is another significant step forward," said Fitzpatrick.

"We wish to place on record our thanks to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, her government and Stadiums Queensland for reaching an agreement concerning the Gabba."

Fitzpatrick said the AFL was in talks regarding the development of a stadium on the Coast, but was unable to comment publicly on their progress.

"We remain in discussion with various stakeholders concerning a stadium development," said Fitzpatrick.

However, the AFL Commission also approved the decision to push ahead with a Gold Coast team competing in the TAC Cup competition in 2009, as well as endorsing the extension of all playing and coaching contracts undertaken by GC17 to extend beyond the end of 2009.







GC17 team toasts top-class effortNick Smart

November 19th, 2008

IT was not exactly the wild celebration they had hoped for.

But GC17 chairman John Witheriff and coach Guy McKenna enjoyed a drink last night confident the Coast would soon be awarded an AFL licence.

The GC17 team held a thank-you party in Southport for those who had worked on the bid over the past six months.

While they did not receive the official green light yesterday, the bid team celebrated the fact that the AFL Commission confirmed they had met the set criteria.

They have done everything in their power to secure the 17th national licence, and Witheriff said that alone was worth a toast.

Have your say on the feedback form below
More AFL news: Local/AFLQ
Read: Coast still without AFL licence

"It is very happy drinks tonight," said Witheriff.

"I've always said that actions speak louder than words, and we had some positive actions today. You can only control what is within your control.

"What was within the control of the Gold Coast and the bid team was hitting the criteria.

"We have done it, and we have had the AFL sign off on the business plan, and they have accepted that it is sufficiently robust. We as a bid team and the Gold Coast know we can't do anything more."

The GC17 chairman had correctly predicted there would be no announcement yesterday.

He expected the AFL Commission meeting to be a 'non-event' with little revealed, but he claimed the bid team received more than he had hoped for.

"The most pleasing aspect is they have given our bid the tick."

It is now over to the AFL to grant the licence to GC17, and AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said he hoped they would have a decision by their next meeting in December.

Witheriff hopes the decision comes sooner rather than later.

"I am not sure about the timing -- I have always said I would like to know before Christmas," he said.

"But there are a couple of issues at play -- the main one at play is how this financial review is going to play out."

The commission also approved the decision to push ahead with a Gold Coast team competing in the TAC Cup competition in 2009.

The 40-man squad trained at Gold Coast Stadium on Saturday, and McKenna said he was thrilled to get the official go-ahead.

"To get the official go-ahead is exciting," said McKenna. "In terms of signing up players and staff the dominoes are starting to fall into place.We've got a program in place with these kids and we look forward to seeing it through."
 
Guys, I was at a function last night where Vlad was the keynote speaker. For what it's worth he made an off the cuff remark that the commission looked like it was going to go ahead with both GC and West Sydney. You feel that if there was any doubt at all about the license he wouldn't have brought the issue up (it wasn't the topic of his prepared speech). Of course we all know that it's all probably a formality anyway, but there you go. That's the word on the street.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top