ENTREPRENEUR Geoffrey Schuhkraft has emerged as a leading figure in the battle to save Gold Coast United.

The Gold Coast identity, who founded talent agency International Quarterback, worked for three years with Italian giants AC Milan and is currently executive director of The Hayden Way, met with A-League boss Lyall Gorman on Wednesday just hours before a "Save GCU" rally at Southport.

United, who meet the Jets in Newcastle tonight, are currently under the control of Football Federation Australia after maverick chairman and billionaire owner Clive Palmer was stripped of the club's licence for material breaches.

Beyond this season, United's future is in serious doubt, with FFA considering replacing them with a team from Western Sydney or reducing the competition to nine teams.

But Schuhkraft said it was imperative a Gold Coast team stayed in the A-League under a broader ownership model involving the community and investors, including Palmer.

"It's essential there's a team on the Coast next season," Schuhkraft said.

"With the Commonwealth Games coming in 2018, with the fact that southeast Queensland is the perfect location for Asian and European clubs for pre-season and post-season training, with linkages with the Gulf region that are also enormously positive . . . there's potential to showcase facilities, showcase what is potentially one of the great sporting destinations we have to offer.

"The FFA are genuine. They understand the Gold Coast is an important market."

Schuhkraft said Palmer's contribution to the club - an $18 million investment - should not be forgotten and that hostilities between Queensland richest man and FFA chairman Frank Lowy needed to be forgotten for the good of the game.

"I've never seen Clive as a liability. It would be a shame if he's lost because he still has something to contribute," he said.

"Everybody involved, and this goes for Mr Lowy as well as Mr Palmer, has to leave their egos at the door.

"Everybody needs to remember that we're all here in the best interests of football, not in anybody's personal best interests."

Palmer last night told The Courier-Mail that he was not against Schuhkraft's idea of him being among a group of investors who would help fund a Gold Coast A-League team next season and beyond.

The organisers of the "Save GCU" rally are planning to meet with FFA officials next week, with a key factor in the discussions being the group's ability to pledge $5 million to the cause of ensuring United's future presence in the competition.

Meanwhile, the Jets have told FFA that signage purchased by Palmer to potentially show his "Freedom of Speech" message and to promote new organisation Football Australia at tonight's Newcastle-Gold Coast match will not be on display at Hunter Stadium.

FFA was ready to punish the Jets with fines and a deduction of points had the signage been displayed.

Palmer today said FFA had "closed the door" on Gold Coast United and "jeopardised" the code's development in "one of Australia's fastest growing regions".

"I was committed to Gold Coast United and the Gold Coast community," Palmer said.

"The Gold Coast is my home and the club would always remain solvent with my Mr Palmer said FFA's decision to strip him of the club's A-League licence had resulted in the loss of jobs to United staff.

"Those staff members had done a fantastic job for the club but the FFA doesn't care about them," Palmer said.

Mr Palmer praised said United's players and coaching staff, and hoped they could finish the season strongly.

Originally published as White knight emerges for GC United