I have 300 words to discuss the circus surrounding Clive Palmer, Gold Coast United and his new Football Australia institute. I don’t know if it can be done, but here we go – Clive is litigious so I will tread carefully. Palmer says he cares about football and the future of the game, but his actions suggest otherwise.

He says he wants to keep his Gold Coast side in the league and continue next year – but everything he’s done this season implies that his interests didn’t extend beyond March. In fact, Ben Buckley claimed on Fox Sports News that Palmer had advised the FFA several weeks ago that he wanted out at the end of the season.

You could assume that the FFA said no at the time and all of Clive’s craziness of the last month is a reaction to that. It’s hollow to see Palmer talking of footballer’s rights when there are two players owed large compensation fees by Gold Coast for broken contracts, and its borderline comical to hear him talking about his commitment to the people of the Gold Coast after three years of complete failure to connect to them in any way.

Meanwhile, in theory his new Football Australia organisation could serve as a valuable independent point of contact between the FFA and supporters, players, officials and owners of clubs both old and new. Something does need to be done about the FFA – expansion failing dismally, owners losing millions and transparency non-existent – but as Chairman Frank made clear this week – it’s never the fault of the FFA. However, as demonstrated in his bizarre rambling press conference on Thursday afternoon, Palmer’s presence weakens the position of the organisation. It appears to be about him and his row with the FFA rather than any genuine attempt to improve the game for us – the supporters.