Since March 2017 only - no point dredging further - when AAFC was formed, we've had, at least- the Whole of Football Plan
- the XI Principles
- the Starting XI (remember them?)
- One Football Strategy
And now we're developing a new strategic plan. Of course we are...
Steven Lowy was FFA Chairman and David Gallop was CEO.
AAFC attended the FFA governance convention overseen by FIFA in late 2017.
It was a sad spectacle.
Rome was burning but the AL was intent on a greater share of the ashes (Foxsports money, about to disappear) and got them...
A new FA (now) - nothing like a rebrand to start afresh and signal intent - was established in 2018 and the new board swept in, led by Chris Nikou as the peace offering, compromise candidate who was on the FFA board, new CEO, James Johnson, and a revamped executive...
So, since 2017, in my capacity at AAFC, advocating for the reform of our untenable national 2nd tier, the NPL, I've dealt with FA Chairs
- Steven Lowy
- Chris Nikou
- Anter Isaac
Many board members, but most relevantly, Remo Nogarotto, Joseph Carozzi. Many haven't left a trace..
CEOs and executive team
- David Gallop
- James Johnson
- Jo Setright (legal)
- Tim Holden (legal)
- Emma Highwood (NST, women)
- Mark Falvo
- Mel Mallam (legal)
- Natalie Lutz (licensing, NST)
- Peter Filopoulos
- Alex Davani
- Sarah Walsh
- Tom Rischbieth
- Robbie Middleby
The private AL teams, collectively, were given effective control of FA Congress via their combined percentage vote, rights over the Women's Council vote and relationship with the PFA and then UNBUNDLED, given 85% of the competition, free, and effective control of FA, via the APL!
This 'brilliant' move resulted in our already inflexible top tier due to private ownership of all teams with no provision for pro/rel, controlled by owners who wanted to 'protect their investment' and who, by law, had to place shareholder interest above the interest of our game.....not only resisting change within its ranks, but affecting and influencing change and the development of all aspects of our game through effective control of FA.
It sold a third of our top tier we gave it for about $140M, and after giving 5% to FA, reducing FA interest to 10%.. ... promptly squandered it all, by all reports.
It was its money after all.
We gave it to them.
Simply brilliant.
Gave away about $130M and control of our governing body to a disparate set of private owners and a US opaque equity fund, Silverlake, legally required to... ...put themselves first.
I forgot to include in my list above the AL heads
- Greg Griffin
- Danny Townsend
- More
In 8.5 years, we've changed direction more times than Messi evading 6 defenders, but without the purpose and execution.
Our current FA Chairman, Anter Isaac,.. ..., appointed by FA in 2022 to develop the NST, left that role midstream to jump onto the FA Board and effectively straight to Chairman.
Incredible moves aren't confined to the pitch.
In his new role, he passionately advocated a different NST comp model to the one he developed. ...
Who will be our new cast? What will be our new 'strategic plan'?
How will we re-invent the wheel? Burn money? Develop a national way to play?
Unless we revert to merit as our guiding principle for Competitions and to clubs as our primary vehicles, this vortex will continue.