THE AFL has given a Gold Coast group six months to prove the region could feasibly sustain a new team in the national competition.

To do so the group, which comprises Gold Coast business and community representatives, will have to follow a strict process laid out by the AFL.

But if successful, the Gold Coast seems assured of winning an AFL licence and therefore setting up a new 17th team in the region in coming years.

The process establishes the structural elements and framework that the Gold Coast group will have to deliver before a licence is granted.

The bid group will be led by Minter Ellison Gold Coast managing partner John Witheriff, ex-Brisbane Lions president Graeme Downie and Southport Football Club president Alan “Doc” Mackenzie.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the group would have six months to demonstrate the Gold Coast’s united support for a 17th team by meeting a series of financial and community milestones established by the AFL.

“We believe the Gold Coast is ready,” Demetriou said.

“All the work and research we have done over the past two years – along with the work of the Gold Coast Advisory group chaired by John – provides a very strong economic, social and football case in support of a Gold Coast team in one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.

"But we have a responsibility to ensure the Gold Coast community is committed to building the right framework for its own team to be successful,”

Demetriou said the AFL Commission and the 16 AFL clubs had told the AFL to be bold in its bid to expand the competition into the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.

But he said it was now up to the team led by Witheriff to unite the business, football and the local people of the Gold Coast into whole-of-community support for a new community-based club.

“The AFL Commission and the 16 AFL clubs have strongly supported expansion,” Demetriou said.

“We understand the responsibility to our 16 AFL clubs, football supporters and the people of the Gold Coast to get this right and ensure any new club has the strong foundations and the structural elements needed to thrive in a national competition.

“Part of our due diligence is making sure that the vocal support from the Gold Coast community is transformed into active support. That the football, business and wider community will unite to build the foundations required to ensure long-term viability and success of an AFL team.

“The AFL’s job is to ensure that all the pillars are there for the 17th licence to be granted, and we look forward to continuing to support the local group in order to deliver the right environment for launching a new team.”

Demetriou said the AFL was committed to assisting the Gold Coast group in achieving its goals and had agreed to a request by the bid group to second a senior AFL manager, Scott Munn, to help manage the project. 

The Gold Coast group will also form an alliance with AFL Queensland to help in the development of the football side of the business and the creation of a team to play in a second tier competition in 2009.

“There is a compelling argument for an AFL team to be here. We know this is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, we know there is a great sporting tradition on the Gold Coast and there is a great sense of community excitement and community pride,” he said.

“John has a strong background of supporting initiatives that provide sporting, business and social opportunities for the wider Gold Coast community.

"Now people and businesses on the Gold Coast have the opportunity to get behind John and his team and become active participants in the establishment of a strong, successful Gold Coast AFL club.”