Sat 31 May, 2008

THE GOLD Coast's bid for the competition's 17th licence has received a $150,000 boost from local football club Southport Sharks.

The Sharks, who themselves were once considered a contender for the licence, threw their support behind GC17 on Saturday - the bid team which has until mid-October to win the AFL's approval.

Sharks chief executive Dean Bowtell handed over a $150,000 donation, making the Southport club GC17's first financial backer.

GC17 chairman John Witheriff, on the receiving end of the giant cheque, said the money would go a long way to boosting the Gold Coast team's campaign.

The money will be spent on new staff and much-needed GC17 merchandise, such as caps and t-shirts, which would help boost the bid team's profile, he said.

Last month, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou laid down a strict set of criteria for the team to fulfil, including acquiring 111 business sponsors and 20,000 potential members.

Mr Witheriff said achieving the 20,000 members was the bid team's key priority.

"If we get that number and we get it quickly, that's going to send an overwhelming message to potential financial backers that we really do have the support of the local community," he told AAP.

With no money to run a marketing campaign, Mr Witheriff said it was astounding some 7500 people had already signed up on their website just 29 days into the bid.

Both he and fellow GC17 leader Alan Mackenzie, who is also the Southport Sharks president, said they were pleased with the bid's progress.

"We've been pretty buoyed by the early success of our campaign," Mr Mackenzie said.

"We are quite certain that there will be strong support for an AFL team on the Gold Coast."

The recent acquisition of former Brisbane Lions captain Michael Voss as a playing list consultant has further boosted the GC17 bid, with the 289-game veteran having already announced his intention to be coach.