Opinion: Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer spoils for Football Federation Australia fight

When David Haye, beer in hand, swaggered into the press conference after the Dereck Chisora and Vitali Klitschko bout, he was only looking for one thing.

What happened next painted neither Haye nor Chisora in a positive light. 

Back in the A-League, an ugly - though hopefully less physical - brawl has also broken out.

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Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer could be described as Australian football's own heavyweight, and he seems to be channeling Haye's provocative side in his escalating war with Football Federation Australia.

A tumultuous few days for United commenced on Wednesday with the appointment of 17-year-old Mitch Cooper - yet to make his A-League debut at the time - as stand-in captain for the match against Melbourne Heart.

Friday's clash against the Heart ended 1-0, but began without coach Miron Bleiberg, after he was suspensed for disparaging remarks he made over the club's decision to appoint Cooper.

Palmer seemed unaware or unfazed by the growing crisis at the A-League's bottom club when he unleashed on the FFA in an article in The Sunday Mail, calling the competition "a joke" and labeling the game "hopeless".

The comments drew an immediate response from FFA chief executive officer Ben Buckley, who declared Palmer's sentiments "offensive".

Bleiberg then resigned from his post on Sunday, in what is unlikely to be the final twist in a dark period for the club.

United have gone from private jets and outlandishly ambitious statements about going through their debut season undefeated to the league's worst side, building an unimpressive rap sheet of player contract irresponsibility and FFA run-ins in the process.

A sparsely filled stadium has remained a constant despite a loyal, brave band of followers, and Buckley's admission to The Sydney Morning Herald of the need of a "serious evaluation" was welcome.

It is hard to see an A-League future for Gold Coast, and most in or around the game in Australia would not be sorry to see the club fall the way of the unfortunate North Queensland Fury.

The decisions of the FFA to award their two expansion licenses to Gold Coast and North Queensland have to be deeply questioned, but it is perhaps an issue for another column.

Buckley and Co. must first attempt to rectify the situation, but Palmer has two years left on his A-League club license and will not go quietly into the Glitter Strip night.

"If we wanted to stay (in the A-League) and they (FFA) wanted to take it (the license) off us, they'd all be in court, and Ben Buckley would run a thousand miles," Palmer said.

"That's the reality of it. They can say what they like... the A-League's a joke. I don't think I'll ever talk to Ben again in my life, to be honest."

Like those of Haye, Palmer's actions seem solely to inspire a reaction from the FFA, to goad and upset.

Palmer wants a fight, and the challenge lies at the feet of the game's governing body.

Hold on to your camera stands.