Australia’s soccer boss Frank Lowy has labelled accusations made by Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer as illogical, confused and damaging.

Lowy responded vigorously on Tuesday to claims made by Palmer that Football Federation Australia (FFA) does not give A-League club owners enough say and that it siphons money away from the clubs.

“Day by day the comments emanating from the Gold Coast are more illogical and more confusing and even more damaging for our game,” FFA chairman Lowy told a Melbourne Heart business luncheon.

“I’m surprised when these ramblings are taken seriously and picked up by others.

“I’m at a loss to understand the motive behind it all.”

Lowy questioned whether mining magnate Palmer wanted his A-League investment in the Gold Coast to be a success.

He described Gold Coast United as being a “spectacular failure” in terms of connecting with the local community and attracting crowds to their home games.

Lowy said talk of a rebel league splitting from the control of the FFA, as reportedly mooted by Palmer, was “madness.”

“The A-League could not survive if it separated from the FFA.”

Lowy said he’d been around for a long time and was not going to respond to people who didn’t know what they were talking about.

The Westfield billionaire said over the next few weeks he would talk with each of the A-League clubs to find a resolution.