THIS could be a big week for local football with a number of big decisions involving the game set to be announced.

For many people it may be the start of the summer season, but for the Webbers Retravision Cougars it is also a time to plan for the 2011 Hyundai QSL program.

“We should have the draw within the next couple of weeks,” Cougars executive officer Bevan Dingley stated.

Football Queensland has yet to announce which teams are in the 2011 competition, something that will need to be rectified before the program for the season becomes official.

Although the season is five to six months away much has to be done before the Cougars take to the park.

With the resignation of Brad Smith as coach, a replacement is being sought.

The obvious choice would be Washington Gonzales, the Football Queensland development officer for Central Queensland.

Dingley said the Cougars had been hopeful Gonzales would slot into the position, especially after FQ chief executive Geoff Foster visited Rockhampton and stated the Uruguayan could coach the Cougars if approached.

However, that was a verbal agreement and Gonzales awaits confirmation from his FQ employer as to how his position would be structured should he take on the coaching role with the Cougars.

Consequently the Cougars must wait to fill the positions of the support group, team manager and assistants as it is appropriate a newly appointed coach would have his own selections.

While hoping to have something resolved as soon as possible, Dingley said the club had to start organising for the new season.

“What we are trying to do is get the group together to start training,” he said.

First the Cougars will invite players to train with the squad when the pre-season gets under way in November.

“We will start with light training, field and gym, probably at the start to mid-November,” he said.

Invitations will go out to players for the senior and under-19 squads.

Last year there was criticism of the number of out-of-town players used and Dingley intends to minimise these numbers.

During Foster’s visit to Rockhampton the player pathway was explained to the local football community with the Cougars being an integral part of football development for all Central Queensland.

“We are looking to hold some of the training sessions at Gladstone,” Dingley said.

During his visit to Rockhampton, Foster stated Football Queensland would be in a position to announce the composition of the committee to mould

football in Central Queensland prior to elections during March 2011.

If the timetable set by Foster is on schedule then the announcement is due this week.

Attempts by The Morning Bulletin to contact Foster have been unsuccessful as the FQ chief executive has been in Sydney on official business.