Soccer boss speaks out
JULIUS ROSS
March 23, 2010 09:19am
FORMER Football Federation Tasmania chief executive Patrick Barlow has explained why he quit after just two days in the job.
Barlow says he quit last week, just two days after his appointment, because of "inherent problems" in the organisation.
In an exclusive interview with the Mercury, Barlow said he quickly realised his position was untenable.
"I could see myself in three months' time [his probation period] being offloaded with a whole lot of baggage which had not been incurred under my watch," he said.
In an email sent to federation president Sean Collins last week informing the president of his resignation, Barlow wrote the following: "After serious consideration of FFT's current situation -- which will take up a considerable amount of time of the new CEO (a situation he would be inheriting), and not concentrating on the bigger picture. This is a challenge I am not prepared to take on."
Barlow said one of his first jobs was to resolve a dispute between Collins and a staff member on stress leave.
Barlow was informed that the staff member had said he would have "no further dealings" with Collins after an alleged disagreement between the staff member and the president.
Barlow was told that Football Federation Australia's game development head Matthew Bulkeley and FFA national technical director Han Berger visited the federation in February from Sydney to discuss the national curriculum and other issues.
Barlow told the Mercury he offered a solution to the problem but that Collins rejected his advice, which meant Barlow would inherit a situation where the staff member and president were not communicating.
Barlow's final straw was Monday last week when he attended an official meeting with all club presidents in attendance where the presidents inquired about FFA's visit in February.
"The presidents asked some very pointed questions about the visit," Barlow said.
"Collins should have said to them: 'This is why they came, these are the issues and that we haven't resolved it'.
"He should have been open, frank and transparent, even if that required asking the media to leave and revealing the details in confidence.
"This clearly didn't happen and Collins put up smoke and mirrors to hide the truth."
Barlow was also displeased with the federation's unprofessional attitude to the 2010 premier league season launch, which took place on March 10, the week before he started work as chief executive.
"From a professional point of view, that was like a Uni Revue sketch for such an important occasion," Barlow said.
Collins responded yesterday with the following statement: "Barlow advised FFT he did not wish to proceed as CEO. I indicated to him at the time that I would not comment further on the matter.
"I respect people's right to privacy and stand by that undertaking."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/03/23/135755_soccer.html