Big stadium a big hurdle for GC17

Two things stand between the Gold Coast and its new AFL team - a 25,000-seat stadium and the mountain of money needed to build it.

Gold Coast mayor Ron Clarke has urged the AFL to seek alternate investors after what he says is a lukewarm response from the Queensland government.

The AFL needs to jointly raise $180 million from the state, federal and local governments for its new stadium at Carrara, generally understood to be the sticking point for the GC17 bid.

Clarke denies the future of the club depends on the Queensland government, but believes the AFL needs to look elsewhere if the stadium is to be built without further hurdles.

"I've said from the start you can't rely on the state government for a major contribution," said Clarke, who has already publicly put forward $20 million from council coffers.

"They're not going to make any more stadiums.

"They're running their own race on this issue."

Clarke has so far been the only party willing to vent his frustrations at the on-going delays associated with the GC17 bid, with GC17 chairman John Witheriff standing by the AFL.

"It hasn't made any difference to us in the practical sense, although that being said, it would be nice to know there is a licence," he said.

Initially, a decision was expected in October 2008, then by December, before the latest postponement at the AFL Commission's meeting earlier this month.

Clarke said he started getting frustrated back in December, claiming time was running out for the club.

"I'm not saying kick the state government out (of negotiations), if they want to contribute that's fine, but the AFL needs to come up with a plan B so we can go ahead no matter what."

It is not the first time the state government has thrown a spanner in the works - it initially planned to abide by a previous contract that ruled a second AFL club would have its home games held at the Gabba until 2015.

The AFL, state and federal governments are still engaged in protracted talks about funding, but have sworn a vow of silence about the progress of the negotiations.

While the global financial downturn has contributed to the AFL's indecision, some sporting sources on the Gold Coast believe now is not the right time for a new football team.

The Gold Coast Football Club is otherwise on track to compete in the TAC Cup beginning in March.