The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round, Round and….Oh No

By: Marcus | October 29th, 2009

It seems as though the honeymoon is over for Gold Coast United, who are now in turmoil.

The wheels are off!

Well isn’t this the clusterfuck!

With crowds of just over 4000 Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer and management have decided to downgrade the stadium to a capacity of 5000. One must ask himself, how does a team with attacking flair and arguably the best player in the league, Jason Culina, not even manage to bring 5000 spectators through the gate? They have been in great form and have been at the top of the table all season, but after last weekends humiliation at the hands of Wellington it seems the club is in meltdown.

The problems are stemming from a lack of support from supporters, which is the boards fault. What have Gold Coast done for there fans I hear you ask, well not much at all. They do minimal community work, which clubs like Melbourne and Newcastle have shown how important that can be, but the biggest problem with the club and the fans relationship is ticket prices. Gold Coast are so Anit-fans they have closed down an entire stand at there stadium, and is it turns out it was were all the cheap tickets were situated. The prices are way to high, $15 for kids and $30 for adults are the cheapest tickets for the first year team, which is ridiculous.

The problem has just reared it head big time and turned itself into an FFA issue. The fans are voicing there displeasure with there treatment, especially at the fact that the seats are going to be restricted starting from next match against there biggest rivals North Queensland. What is the boards reaction to this situation I hear you ask? They are blaming the fans. In an interview with 442, when United CEO Clive Mensink was asked ‘That’s not the fault of the fans surely?’ in relation to the poor crowds, he replied ‘Isn’t it? The team’s on top of the table, you had second versus third with Perth and we only got 4,000. So is that the fault of Clive Palmer? Why didn’t they come? They knew about it. The game’s on.’ I think that is one of the most disrespectful I have heard a club say to there fans, seriously what a joke!

What Clive and Co. fail to realize is that fans are more than just consumers, that’s were this club is failing. In Europe, South America and all other successful footballing continents the fans play an integral part of the club, it has become a big community or in Barcelona for example it is a culture.

With the lowest crowds in the short history of the A-League one has to ask themselves, will Gold Coast United be the next New Zealand Knights? The future is looking very bleak, and given the fact that fans are boycotting the match this weekend they could struggle to get 3000 through the gate. At this point in time with the FFA fuming over the restriction I wouldn’t be surprised if there license was rescinded if its possible and the new West Sydney team brought in for next season to replace the failure that is Gold Coast United.

Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink interview here

Fans discussed at broken promises here

Article on lack of culture here

TWG analysis here

And the wheels are off!