Gold Coast stand down coach Bleiberg

Gold Coast have suspended coach Miron Bleiberg over comments about the decision to hand a 17-year-old the captain’s armband on his debut.

Club chief executive Clive Mensink confirmed the news on Thursday, with the indefinite ban relating to comments made after the announcement that Mitch Cooper will lead the side in his first A-League match.

Cooper, who will start against Melbourne Heart this weekend, will captain the team in the absence of the suspended Michael Thwaite.

Mensink said the suspension was until ‘further notice’ but said the club would meet for talks with Bleiberg in the next few days.

The United CEO confirmed the club was behind the decision to appoint Cooper, with Bleiberg part of the consulting process.

“(The) reason being is the club does take the matter seriously in appointing Mitch as captain,” Mensink told reporters. “We believe in Mitch for the future of the club and the game and he’s proven himself at international level.”

“The club did take the matter very seriously, the decision was not made lightly or jokingly and I think it’s being disrespectful, some of the comments towards Mitch and the club in regards to his appointment … that it was ceremonial.”

“We haven’t made it that way at all. It was a decision made in all seriousness with the future in mind. It was an opportunity to provide more leadership for the future.”

Injured Gold Coast goalkeeper Glen Moss had earlier took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal the news, saying that assistant coach Mike Mulvey would be in charge for the trip to face Heart on Friday.

“Mike Mulvey will do the job for us Friday night as the club has suspended Miron. Mike has full respect of the group and is a top coach,” Moss wrote.

Bleiberg – the club’s inaugural coach – had a day earlier revealed the surprise decision to hand the armband to Cooper for the match against the Heart.

“Our owner (Clive Palmer) likes to think a bit outside of the box and I think he’s come up with a great idea which I endorse,” Bleiberg said, with United likely to field just two players over the age of 23 due to injury and suspension.

“Mitch will remember this when he will be a grandfather. He will toss the coin. Then he will ask Kristian Rees which way to go, and then Kristian will tell him what to do (in the game).”

“He will do the ceremony, it will take one minute and then the game is normal.”