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Former A-League club Gold Coast United to bid for expansion spot

Resurrected former A-League club Gold Coast United is set to bid for a return to the competition, almost six years after being booted out.

Founded by Clive Palmer, United was closed down by Football Federation Australia in 2012 and replaced by Western Sydney the following season.

But the club was revived last year by a group of local businessmen and plays in Queensland's state league.

The club's board voted last week to approve a fresh A-League bid, clearing the way for them to join the race for one of two licences to be handed out for season 2019-20.

United have called a media conference for Thursday morning, when it's expected the expansion push will be officially confirmed.

Close to a dozen groups have signalled their intention to apply for a spot in the A-League, including others from southeast Queensland like Brisbane City and Brisbane Strikers.

Questions will be raised over whether the Gold Coast is ready for another crack after the spectacular demise of mining billionaire Palmer's club.

However, hopes are high that hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games will have a transformative effect on local sport, while the revived Gold Coast United has already established strong grassroots links.

FFA is set to call for formal expressions of interest for bidders by the end of this month, with a decision on which two will be granted entry to a 12-team competition by the end of the year.

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