Former A-League boss eager to return for FFA rebuild

Former A-League boss Archie Fraser has put his hand up to help Football Federation Australia reinvent itself in the post-Steven Lowy era.

Fraser quit the governing body after just 12 months in the job back in 2011, disillusioned with the direction taken by the FFA board and with a belief that his “hands were tied behind his back”.

He’s been an avid observer of the game’s administrative misfortunes ever since, and a staunch critic of the Lowy-led regime.

As the dust settles on the revolution that has upended the status quo, Fraser is viewed by several well placed observers as a logical choice to play a leading role in a transition team to help run the sport and make important decisions over the futures of several highly-placed FFA executives in the coming months.

With an annual general meeting due in late November to elect at least three new board members, including a new chairman, and to enact the constitution put forward by the Congress Review Working Group, FFA will need capable hands to run the show.

Former professional footballer Fraser, all too familiar with the intricacies at Whitman Square, told The World Game: “If I can play a part, I’d be delighted to do so.

“There’s a fresh start in essence but it’s not about looking backwards now, it’s about looking forwards.

“Whoever goes in ... it’s not about retribution. There’s been enough of that in the last few years.

“If I’m involved, I’d do anything I can to help the game in whatever capacity that might be.

“I think I could certainly add value to the transition and in the the discussion around that. Change has only happened because stakeholders haven’t really been listened to over the last few years.

“A collective love for the game among a wide group of people has driven this change.
“They have rejected the way it was run. Whoever comes in next will have to listen to the stakeholders and they will need to get some wins on the board pretty quickly.”

With the AFC Asian Cup in January, a timetable for expansion to be ratified, the A-League to be given its freedom and the FIFA World Cup coming up for the Matildas - the day-to-day operations at FFA remain crucial.

Not to mention decisions over the futures of several executives synonymous with the Lowy era, and with no innate allegiance to the sport they run.

Gallop, for one, signed a extension to his $1.25 million annual deal in March which takes him through to the end of 2020.

It’s likely the new board may look to bring in a new CEO with strong football ties, signaling a possible exit for the former NRL chief.

“Whether it’s me or somebody else, we need people who understand commercial rights, the structures of the game, the grass roots and the the women’s game,” added Fraser.

“We need somebody who understands the offside rule, the subtleties of the game, how the fans interact and how important they are to the sport. There are enough able people out there to run it, and run it well.

“And to run it with some passion ... that’s what’s been missing for the last 10 years.

“They all work hard at FFA but if you never go and watch another game of football when you finish up there you shouldn’t be in that job.

“I haven’t seen too many senior FFA officials at NPL games.

“We need to get football people back involved who are not just hanging on to power but are actually committed to growing the game.”
Fraser believes football has lost ground to Australia’s other codes during its long civil war but that the next five years offer unprecedented possibilities.

“We need to build up our content and get the A-League up to 14 teams as quickly as possible,” he added.

“We need a second division because there’s an appetite for that in the game.

“We need to address commercial shortfalls, the cost of playing the game, the structure of the NPL, get the curriculum right, get some assets on the books and get the women’s game up to where it should be.

“A lot of commercial opportunities have been missed in the last 10 years. But there are so many opportunities out there it’s frightening.”

In his previous incarnation at FFA, Fraser knew after just a few months that he “couldn’t make a difference”.

“It was in the middle of our World Cup bid and the priorities were not on the A-League,” he added.

“In my view, the way the place operated was dysfunctional. It was probably the most frustrating 12 months of anything I’ve ever done, when it should’ve been the absolute best role for me with my previous experience in sports administration.”

But he believes seismic change now has put the other codes “on notice”.

“Things will change dramatically over the next five years and we will be a serious competitor to every other sport,” he said.

“They’ve effectively been taking advantage of our lack of strategy, leadership and accountability.”


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5 min read
Published 5 October 2018 3:42pm
By Dave Lewis

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