Gold Coast United expelled from A-League

Football Federation Australia (FFA) is to axe Gold Coast United from the A-League but hopes the players will fulfil their obligations for the rest of the season.

High profile Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer announced his club's fate on Twitter yesterday afternoon writing "our licence is being rekoved by Frank Lowy and FFA cohorts .. I will issue detailed response shortly."

Palmer had previously indicated that he would his club's expulsion in the courts, and went on to tweet "we intend to fight this ludicrous decision by incompetent FFA in the courts. Frank Lowy is an institution who now belongs in an institution."

Palmer's statements preceeded FFA Chairman Frank Lowy announcement that the governing body had expelled the club with immediate effect in the wake of Palmer's outspoken criticism and breaches of at least three articles of the club A-League participation agreement.

The FFA will now seek to have talks with Gold Coast players to enter an agreement to play the final four games of the 2011/12 A-League season. The FFA will pay the players' wages.

The decision is likely to mean that the A-League will be a nine-team competition for the 2012/13 season, although Lowy is apparently hopeful that a tenth team could still be included. Gold Coast, under new ownership, would be a candidate as would a possible team based in western Sydney.

Lowy explaind "we will do our darnest to have a 10-team competition, and I'm reasonably confident of that happening."

FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley said the FFA had exhausted all attempts to organise an exit strategy with no assistance from Gold Coast and warned Palmer not to get in the way of the FFA as it tried to ensure a fair outcome for United's players and the rest of the league.

Buckley stated "as you are aware, Gold Coast had material breaches at Skilled Stadium last Saturday night (Freedom of Speech slogan).

'"Over the past four weeks Gold Coast United has told us repeatedly it wanted to leave the competition at the end of the season.

"During the same period it has issued contradictory statements that it intends to stay while also signalling its intention to breach FFA policies.

"The FFA wants an orderly process where the club could complete its remaining fixtures in 2011/12. We want to avoid problems with the standings of any of the other nine clubs, and achieve the fairest outcome in the competition.

"If Mr Palmer obstructs this attempt he should stand condemned by the entire football community."

Lowy said FFA were left with no alternative but to terminate the licence, adding "I'm profoundly disappointed to have to make this decision ... but I was left with no alternative but to terminate the Gold Coast United licence.

"As custodian of the game we had to act to protect the integrity of the Hyundai A-League on behalf of other nine clubs ... and, most important, the fans."