Phoenix Transfer - speculation (Part 1)

Gold Coast United goes glossy

David Lewis

October 1st, 2008

THE most aggressive recruitment campaign ever unleashed by a sporting club begins today with glossy brochures explaining the attractions of Gold Coast United heading the way of the 96 A-League players coming off contract at the end of the season.

The 22-page sales pitch positions United as 'Queensland's Premier Football Club' -- a statement sure to get up the noses of natural rivals the Roar -- and labels the Coast as the nearest thing to nirvana this side of the mortal coil.

It also serenades the club's fixture against Chinese giants Beijing Guoan at the iconic Bird's Nest Olympic stadium next June as the highpoint of a pre-season tour which will also take in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.
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The booklets also trumpet The Strip's culture, entertainment attractions and natural beauties -- wilderness, not women.

It's all part of billionaire boss Clive Palmer's magnificent obsession to turn the Coast into a magnetic field few players will be able to resist.

The iron ore magnate won't rest until he has mined the richest talent seams in Australia and beyond.

Last year's A-League Player of the Year Joel Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), Carlos Hernandez (Melbourne Victory), Cassio (Adelaide United), Sasho Petrovski (Mariners) and Shane Smeltz (Wellington) will all be targeted by the brochure drop.

The rhetoric turned to reality yesterday when Palmer descended in one of his helicopters at Skilled Park alongside his first significant signing -- former Juventus back-up goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan.

"Why would a player want to play for anybody else in Australia," he chirped.

"We're already Queensland's premier club and we're also going to be the best club in the country. We'll prove it by winning the competition in our first season (2009-2010).

"Players like Jess didn't come here to finish last and I didn't invest in this club to finish last. Winning is what this club will be all about."

Palmer, whose business tentacles probe deep into China, personally brokered the deal with Guoan with the two clubs set to play each other home and away on an annual basis as well as indulging in players exchange, coaching co-operation and joint marketing projects.

Palmer claims Vanstrattan is just the tip of the talent iceberg with other major signings set to be announced as early as next week, with Wellington Phoenix's New Zealand international striker Smeltz almost certain to be one of them. Talks will begin in earnest today, with Smeltz -- a player long admired by head coach Miron Bleiberg -- keen to return to Queensland where he spent two years with the Brisbane Strikers.

Bleiberg, who has received a rich response from players who have been approached overseas, admitted: "We'll be talking but there are other clubs after him too and nothing is finalised yet."

Palmer added: "You'll be surprised at some of the players we're dealing with. Some of them have earned huge sums and while we can't afford that because of the salary cap, the fact is they want to live and play on the Gold Coast."

Bleiberg insisted the club would not be a rest home for fading stars.

"We'll be getting people who still have a lot of football left in them," he said.

Palmer reiterated the club would ferry its players about in one of his three jets, emblazoned with a Gold Coast United crest and complete with a multi-million dollar refit.