Speaking to www.au.fourfourtwo.com last night from Brisbane, Bennett was adamant the Coast could develop a viable A-League franchise.

“The main thing with the Gold Coast is that they’re building a 25,000 all-seater stadium. It’s where the [NRL side] Titans will play. They’re gonna want to have that used all year round,” says Bennett.

Queensland premier Peter Beattie officially opened the building phase of the new stadium in the Gold Coast suburb of Robina last May.

“It will be a fully functional rectangular venue suitable for rugby league, rugby union and soccer. I am sure the new stadium will be come an iconic Gold Coast landmark embraced by locals and admired by all Queenslanders,” said Beattie.

The stadium, which is set to be ready by March 2008, will include a range of state of the art facilities including a 500 seat function hall, approximately 100 open corporate boxes and 25 closed corporate suites.

The Gold Coast is a strong area for football with over 6,000 registered players, astutely governed by Gold Coast Soccer.

“There’s a fan base on the Gold Coast for football," adds 2006 Gold Coast State Cup coach Bennett. He also played 55 times for the Socceroos in the late 70s and also with the Brisbane Lions in the old NSL up until his retirement in the mid-80s.

"Last year, Queensland Roar and Sydney FC played a pre-season game on a cold and rainy night and nearly 8,000 turned up to Carrara stadium.

“The area is getting more populated and I tell you, the Gold Coast league is very strong from a corporate point of view.

"They offer $20,000 for the winner of their league and they have plenty of sponsors. It’s a growing area for population with more people living there rather than the transient population it used to have.

“We need two or even three teams in Queensland. You need that rivalry. And for the fans, they can see a Queensland team play every week.”

Bennett concedes the Townsville bid is “probably ahead in terms of preparation” and he cautions that the Gold Coast bid “may need six to 12 months to be fully ready… but if they get in now, with guys like Peter Gray, they’ll be ready.”

Gray is a former powerbroker at the successful Soccer NSW who now holds the position of President of Gold Coast Soccer.

Gray told The Australian yesterday: "I have no doubt that, despite giving away a bit of a start, we are ready to put in a very competitive bid for the franchise.

"We have a very influential and powerful group of Gold Coast and interstate businessmen who are very keen to get involved in the A-League. They are more than capable of making it happen."