YEAH, that's right, none of this furious, roaring glory rubbish inspired by know-nothing US advertising executives. The Gold Coast A-League team will officially be called "Gold Coast United" - and yes, you read it here first.

What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a real football team, with a real football name, and some really exciting football players to boot.

I don't know about you, but I am just gob-smacked by the quality of the team we have assembled so far.

First it was Jess Vanstrattan and Paul Okon stepping off the helicopter at Skilled Park. Then came Adam Griffiths and Shane Smeltz. Then a whole handful of Brazilians, and then the mighty Joel Porter.

And now - quite incredibly - it looks like we are set to sign not just Jason Culina but quite possibly Mile Sterjovski as well! Wow!

I mean, seriously - WOW!!!

Sure, Culina and Sterj are not confirmed yet, but even without them we look deadly dangerous.

And sure, while the squad looks good on paper, we won't know anything until the first ball is kicked. But so what?

Miron Bleiberg and Big Clive have just thrown down the gauntlet to other clubs. The A-League will never be the same again.

Other club CEOs now have a choice - either give up on finals football, or put out the "For Sale" signs, or invest some serious money in player recruitment over the off-season.

Clubs that want to compete for the title in 09/10 will need to push the salary cap to its limits, just like Gold Coast have done. They will need to bring in seriously marquee players of a Culina/Dwight calibre, and try to drum up some hype in their local communities (SFC take note).

Now, you may not be a Gold Coast supporter. You might not be quite as impressed as me by our squad to date. But even the most cynical football fan must admit that - thanks to Clive Palmer and Miron Bleiberg - Australian football has just taken one massive, giant leap forward.

Well done, gentlemen.


NOTES IN THE MARGIN:

* The club confirmed the "United" name to me by email. The club colours, logo and strip will be unveiled in the very near future.

* Remember a few months back, when Miron Bleiberg boasted about having the signatures of nine A-League players in the bag? So whatever happened to that?

Well, apparently there are contracts and then there are contracts. Some players who confirmed an understanding with the Gold Coast club earlier on might now be disappointed to find that big new signings and salary cap restrictions are making their own formal contracts less likely.

There were more than 23 players on the original short list and more have been added since then, so obviously not everybody gets a jersey. But anyone who has been given serious consideration (e.g. Trent Waterson) will obviously remain a potential target as the squad evolves.

* Still not much activity on the J-League and W-League fronts. All the club's existing resources remain focussed on building the best possible senior team and ensuring a successful debut year in the A-League. "One thing at a time!" I am told.

* Goalie Scott Higgins and midfielder Steve Fitzsimmons are running a six-week coaching clinic at Merrimac Soccer Club. Anyone interested should contact coastpro@ymail.com

* Rumour has it there's a press conference scheduled for next Wednesday, and I'll be doing my level best to get access! If you have any questions you would like asked, please let me know.