The long-running issue of Gold Coast Galaxy’s stadium deal has been one of the sticking points for Football Federation Australia over the last six months.

But, according to Galaxy officials, a five-year contract is set to be signed with Skilled Stadium at Robina.

“As for our home ground, it will be Skilled Stadium. We’re almost there with that. It’s something we’ve been working on for a while," Galaxy owner Fred Taplin told au.fourfourtwo.com.

The 27,000 all-seat stadium is owned by the Queensland government. There has been disquiet over Queensland Roar’s deal with Suncorp Stadium, also owned by the state government.

Taplin has said all along that he would not sign a deal that would bankrupt the club.

Galaxy expect the FFA board meeting in early June to ratify their bid for the start of the 2009/10 A-League season.

“We’re still moving forward. We met with the FFA last Friday and there are some shareholding issues to be tidied up but by early June we’re hopeful that we’ll be in the A-League."

He also confirmed the name of the club would not change. “Gold Coast Galaxy it is, and we’ll be based at the Runaway Bay Super Centre.”

The Super Centre is a multi-function complex that would house the training and administrative arm of the club (it’s also the home of Gold Coast Soccer, the region’s governing body).

The Galaxy supremo also said that the club plans to field a national youth league team in its first season.

“We expect to have our youth league ready to go by season one. Sadly, we’ve recently lost some very talented kids to Queensland Roar. They were very keen to play for us next season.”

The Gold Coast will appoint a coach once their bid has been accepted into the league.

“It’s hard to sell something that doesn’t exist,” added Taplin, “but the interest from sponsors has been monumental.”