How do you re-ignite interest in an A-league franchise that hasn't quite made the impact on the local scene as hoped?
Well for starters you wipe the slate and try a new tact at engaging the community, but if you ask the supporters of the Gold Coast United there is a real and simple idea.
In a name - Harry Kewell.
Rumours surfaced in the last month that Harry's Turkish odyssey was past its shelf life and that one of our favourite Socceroos sons was looking toward the MLS for a $3 million price tag. This was quickly followed by further reports that the figure was shopped around to the two men in the A-league that could afford it and personally approve it without board meetings and justification. Tinkler and Palmer 's respective teams are the focus here, but in a broader context are we looking at the Marquee of all Marquees.
Whether either mining magnate manages to lure him this time around is a mystery but would the FFA not be interested in sweetening the pot for Kewell. Of all the players in the world of football, no-one cuts through to the casual observer like Harry. He is the games face, the go-to man and Australian news services who only report on the game during the World Cup paint him as a man carrying the national team on his back (slowly this torch is being transferred to Tim Cahill).
While Zidane lacing up for Victory or Messi leading the Mariners out onto a field would inspire Euro snobs and World cup armchair veterans through the gates, I believe Harry is THE ONE who would cross the divide into those who don't really cast an eye over the sport at all.
If a Marquee is to build the brand recognition and get bums on seats then surley he is the white whale so to speak, so much so that it has led local supporters of Gold Coast to start campaigning to get him here and aware of the leagues yearning for him. If anyone player could ignite the community he is that player.
How much can we read into rumours? We know that he was approached as a target last season so why not now? It would be a dream signing and dream acquisition for not only the team that 'won' him but the league.
Meanwhile Miron has come out firing at the doom and gloom reporting of the clubs new signings and announced to the world that the club is trialling some overseas talent to replace the big names that left them this season, its also full steam ahead off the ground as well as I have done some sleuthing to unveil the teams new playing strip.
It is apparently onwards and upwards, don't read into the reports of demise and respect the clubs desire to bring local talent through onto Australia's biggest stage as they had always promised to do.
What price would be placed on uncovering the next Leckie or Zullo as they made way onto your local A-league pitch, and a dream of having Kewell at the helm guiding them?
