The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday reported that Palmer, one of the wealthiest men in Queensland, is ready to bankroll the Galaxy's bid.

However it is understood that Palmer has actually put together a completely new offer based around an entirely new club.

It all came as news to Galaxy owner Fred Taplin.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com that as far as he was concerned, Palmer's interest in Gold Coast in the A-League was a separate bid and he refused to comment on the new rival bid itself.

But he added: "We have sought clarification from FFA but their silence has been deafening.”

In the meantime, Taplin has moved swiftly to axe Bleiberg from his club as well as Norman Chan who was also involved in the Galaxy bid.

Bleiberg was the football operations manager at Taplin's bid and had been heavily involved in recruiting players.

A statement from Taplin added: "The consortium are shocked and horrified by the articles in the the press. We have written to the FFA requesting clarification.

"We have also written to Miron Bleibeg and Norman Chan advising them they no longer represent Gold Coast Galaxy."

It added: "Gold Coast Galaxy intends to vigorously pursue the granting of the Gold Coast franchise.

"No further comments will be made on behalf of the company until the resolution of all these matters is decided by Football Federation Australia."

The FFA board is due to meet this Tuesday where it was expected they'd rubber stamp Taplin's Gold Coast bid for the following season's A-League.

Now, like the Townsville bid last month, that decision is now up in the air as the lucrative bidding for a Gold Coast licence just ramped up a notch.