Breaking: Ben Buckley steps down as FFA CEO, David Gallop to replace
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Former chief executive of the Australian Rugby League Commission David Gallop. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
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Chief Executive Officer of Football Federation Australia, Ben Buckley, has announced he will step down from his role at the conclusion of negotiations for the FFA’s new broadcast deal in about two months.
Former CEO of the NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission, David Gallop, has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer.
Chairman of FFA, Frank Lowy, said Buckley first raised the prospect of moving on from FFA several months ago and the two had agreed the conclusion of the broadcast deal was a logical time to make a career move.
“The broadcast deal is at the heart of the future of football in this country and it has been the most critical aspect of my work for the past 18 months,” said Buckley.
“I told the Chairman some time ago I was determined to negotiate the best possible deal to underpin the future growth of the game but that once done I would like to work with he and the board to identify a successor.”
Lowy said Buckley had discussed Gallop with him about two months ago. Buckley had contacted Gallop soon after he had left the NRL and had discussed possible opportunities at FFA.
“These discussions created the opportunity for us to consider Gallop as a successor to Ben,” he said.
Lowy described Buckley as one of Australia’s finest sports administrators.
“Ben has worked tirelessly for football both at home and abroad and has steered the game through a difficult period of consolidation.
“He has the respect and thanks of the board for his contribution and he will remain a valued friend of the game.
“I wish him well for the future.”
Lowy said he was looking forward to working with Gallop to build on past achievements and grow the game into the future.
“Mr Gallop comes to the job well-equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
“He is an experienced sports administrator of high standing and is widely respected across all sports.”
Gallop is on leave overseas and will be available to media on his return in about two weeks. He will assume his new role with FFA before the end of the year with the commencement date to be confirmed soon.
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August 21st 2012 @ 3:02pm
Damo said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Sweet! maybe he’ll bring back my mighty Fury!
August 21st 2012 @ 3:17pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
tell him he’s dreamin.
Next teams in the HAL will be Canberra and the Gong and even then that wont be for ages, look at how expansion-shy the NRL was under Gallop.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:24pm
pete4 said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
Kasey – I think expansion will happen again with the next TV deal. I certainly think we have the player pool (even now) for 12 clubs
August 21st 2012 @ 3:27pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
It could very well happen, but I am on the record as being very much focused on creating a stable base for footbal I think the current 10 team league should be bedded down for a couple of years. A stable base from which to build a long and glorious future. My biggest hope is that the FFA Cup is announced along with the new TV deal.
The next TV deal will deliver an unprecedented-for-football period of stability. 3-5 years with no owner Dummy-spits or teams going bust would do wonders for the image of the league and its ability to attract new spectators and sponsors.
That would set us up for an improved TV deal in 2-deals time, which should be when we focus on growing the footprint of the game IMO. As an Engineer, I am always cautious about building on anything other than a stable base.
August 21st 2012 @ 6:26pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 6:26pm | Report comment
One of the great things about football pete is we NEVER have to worry about the depth of the player pool.
Our sport has access to 210 countries worth of players as well as the locals.
The depth of the supporter pool is another question entirely. convincing Eurosnobs to take an interest in the local game is the challenge there IMO.
August 21st 2012 @ 4:27pm
ChrisW said | August 21st 2012 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
I disagree, with only 1 team in QLD FFA will push for a 2nd team there and Townsville clearly wanted a A-league team there more then Gold Coast, after that i think it will most likely be Canberra. Either way expansion should only be done when all clubs are financially safe and when WS has been sold.
About the FFA cup im still very unsure about its viability at this point, the A-league struggles to get crowds as it is, i question whether people would actually go and watch it, id test it for a season but if it drains to much money i would put it on an eventual wishlist.
Ty Buckley for serving our game.
August 22nd 2012 @ 8:57am
Kasey said | August 22nd 2012 @ 8:57am | Report comment
What is it with some football fans and the obsession with expansion? Can’t we just see if we get one right (WSWFC)before we jump headlong into even thinking about Canberra, Townsville or Wollongong.
August 21st 2012 @ 5:22pm
Steve said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
I agree it’s probably a good appointment, but how long will it be before the conspiracy nuts start accusing him of being a Trojan-horse, sent by the NRL to destroy the beautiful game?
August 21st 2012 @ 5:39pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
But RL have been so nice to football, without League we wouldn’t have the SFS, Suncorp or Hunter stadium. I
ts only in the last few days that the Wolves being shafted by RL and the Canterbury v Olympic fighting over Belmore articles have appeared in the media that football fans have had any real reason to look suspiciously at RL.
The AFL’s behavior during the WC bid, certainly painted them as the big bad, but I don’t buy it. Everybody knows Ovals and rectangle sports make for a terrible mix.
August 21st 2012 @ 5:45pm
Titus said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:45pm | Report comment
Steve, the wars over…both NRL and AFL have billion dollar deals and their future is assured. You can stop worrying so much now, the world game isn’t going to destroy your way of life and eat your children.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:04pm
Midfielder said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
Interesting times…
August 21st 2012 @ 3:10pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
Wow, this is hHuuu-uuge News, I wonder how soon the football clique will turn on the ‘NRL man’ after they realise what I suspect, that BB didn’t do that bad a job and that just sacking him and replacing him with anybody wasn’t going to work.
I detest RL, so avoid it like the plague. This means I have no real idea what type of an administrator that Gallop will make for football.
If he WAS a News Ltd Yes-man, then perhaps he knows enough people to get them to stop unfairly sticking the boot into our game?
Interesting to note that it says at the conclusion of negotiations for the FFA’s new broadcast deal in about two months. This means he will either be dropping a Holy-and-Grenadeof Antioch and effing off
[he did knock back that improved deal 3 years ago. OR
will not get to enjoy the fruits of his labours, Lord knows it must be dead easy to administer a sport when you have a bit of cash in your back pocket – just ask the AFL.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:25pm
NF said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Interesting to see how this goes considering Gallop was ok for a while but then become stale and yes-man to news ltd. As a result, RL stood still when he was in charged but he did bring growth to the game. Kasey you might detest RL like the plague the same way I avoid AFL so let’s just see how DG goes. Cheapshotting RL seems to be the fashionable thing to do these days.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:47pm
oly09 said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Surely Lowy has offered Buckley a leaving bonus based purely on what sort of TV deal he gets for the FFA.
August 21st 2012 @ 4:31pm
AGO74 said | August 21st 2012 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
I find it interesting that you detest a game which has virtually no presence in your town. Why the hate?
August 21st 2012 @ 5:15pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
I haven’t always lived in Adelaide. Oddly I was born in NSW but grew up as a croweater in SA. I spent 2 years in Sydney in 1999-2000 for work and RL was always in your face, the DT and other media just thrusting it and pushing it hard.
Its not like I couldn’t find RL if I wanted to, it was always there, calling out to me but I guess every bodies tastes are different – I just flat out don’t like it. Of the four footballs in Australia is is always likely to be #4 for me. perhaps detest was too strong a word?
I don’t go out of my way to antagonize its fans, but I will switch channel when its RL time on FSN. I’ve seen some youTube clips of 80′s RL and to be frank the old stuff looked kind of interesting, but I could just never get into the NRL. I’ve tried many times to sit down and watch a game live and on the box, but no love.
I did find out that I had a soft spot for the rugby though when I lived in Canberra, but the modern insistence on kicking penalties all the damned time is starting to test my patience.
Really my comment wasn’t meant as a slam of RL.
It was more a pointer to how because I’ve avoided most things RL over the years so I’m not really in a position to even guess how Gallop will go as CEO of FFA.
I guess I’ll just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best Like an unknown off season signing for my beloved Reds:)
August 21st 2012 @ 5:28pm
AGO74 said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:28pm | Report comment
Maybe detest was too strong a word having read that!
And maybe Gallop will show up unlike that reds triallist! – sorry but I couldn’t resist!
August 21st 2012 @ 5:30pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
I think detest was definitely too strong a word
Its alright, as with being called p*ssants, we are owning the joke, My new AU shirt will have
DEXTER #0 on it this season:)
August 21st 2012 @ 5:04pm
Eamonn said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Kasey you said this: didn’t do that bad a job.
No team in Townsville
No team in Gold Coast
2,000 Foundation Memberships refunded at $200 in Canberra and absolutely no vision to grow the game in the region or build on what the community had done
Six month season for professional football
So let me see – all A-League clubs have and continue to lose money and big investors and
Ben hasn;’t done that bad a job.
Australian Football – we don’t settle for less clubs, less fans and less games. Thank you!
He might improve the tv deal but in my view it’s a big fail along the way.
Point to any sustained growth or improvement, stability, more marquees, less public spats…etc etc…
August 21st 2012 @ 5:25pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 5:25pm | Report comment
I would argue that NQ and GC were never viable HAL markets. lay the blame at BB’s feet – yes he didn’t do the due diligence on those new franchises and their owners.
I will not go as far as Phil Rothfield and lay the blame for the failed WC bid at BB’s feet, I will blade him for taking his eye off the HAL while he WC bid was on and not realising that the HAL needed more attention(perhaps more staff) while he and Frank were swanning around Switzerland etc.
Regardless of who is the FFA-CEO, running such a divided game in this country is going to be difficult.
If Buckley has gotten us a sweet TV deal, then the job will be marginally easier for Gallop. Money can paste over a lot of cracks.
Ultimately are we in a better place as a sport than 5 years ago? – probably too early to judge.
In the fullness of time that’s going to be for history to judge. 5 years ago we were coming off the high-water marks for all HAL KPIs, but I think that had more to do with “the new car smell”than any particular genius from John O’Neill.
August 22nd 2012 @ 9:52am
phutbol said | August 22nd 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
NQ and GCU were WC bid pawns. They were pretty much toast as soon as we lost the bid. Blame BB if you want but I dont think it was his decision to try to host a WC. In hindsight the WC bid was probably the biggest mis-step made by FFA/lowy et al. It’s demise started a bit of a downward spiral that took a while to halt due to so many resources bieng aimed at the bid at the expense of the A-league in particular it seems. The ‘badwill’ (is that a word?) generated in the fallout of the bid also exacerbated the spiral i think too.
But to say it all BB’s fault is a bit rich IMO.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:21pm
Ray said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
As midfielder said, these are definitely very interesting times. Dave Gallop to the FFA, Gillon to the ARLC. Who knows what happens next? O’Neill to the AFL and Andy to the ARU. Wouldn’t that be something
August 21st 2012 @ 3:04pm
pete4 said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
I’m reserving judgement on this one…
August 21st 2012 @ 3:22pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
The only sure thing we CAN take from this is that everybody at FFA expects the Media deal to be signed sealed & delivered in less than 2 months from now.
If it is in the vicinity of the double t’last one+20% figure bandied about here on the Roar then that will provide a wonderful boost to the positive publicity of the game and get the new season off to a great off field start!
August 21st 2012 @ 8:56pm
mike said | August 21st 2012 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
Anything less than $90M per season will be considered a total failure by Ben Buckley and prove that the FFA’s critics were correct all along that Football is being robbed by the media!
August 21st 2012 @ 3:12pm
Davo said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
for me he was the shining light in a murky NRL for many years.
He was bring a no BS approach to running the game in this country and i also suspect he will have the know-how in terms of a tv deal and fan interaction.
I think this is a very good move.
August 21st 2012 @ 11:38pm
MelbCro said | August 21st 2012 @ 11:38pm | Report comment
Yeah mate, great fan interaction like when he called Melbourne Storm fans terrorists.
Gallop will be a yes man to Lowy, just as Buckley was.
August 22nd 2012 @ 8:02am
Kasey said | August 22nd 2012 @ 8:02am | Report comment
What a surprise, I actually agree in part with something MelbCro has said:
As I said in todays Roar Article:
Ultimately though, it is not the CEO(Buckley or Gallop) that sets the agenda of the FFA. It is the Chairman. I predict that not much will change in overall direction under Gallop because most of the important decisions are still obviously Frank Lowy’s.
What I think we can expect from Gallop is a better day-to-day running of the A-League as a competition and how it interacts with the media.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:17pm
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
Well,what’ya know? Welcome aboard David! Dealing with Frank will be a little different to what you may be used to but rest assured there will be a lot less sniping from within the game compared to what you’re used to.
I heard some whispers about this but thought it was just rumour mongering in the media. I’m genuinelly surprised by this. And Ben Buckley, thank you for your hard work in trying times – a little hit and miss but all in all a job well done.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:22pm
winter is coming said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
excellent news!
August 21st 2012 @ 3:26pm
Bondy. said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
I knew this was in the pipeline.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:31pm
Kasey said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Of course you did sunshine..there are no secrets in Aus football
August 21st 2012 @ 3:32pm
Cigar1969 said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
ARL Commission chairman John Grant view on Gallop in the aftermath of his sacking as chief executive of the Australian Rugby League Commission.
“If you look at the way the game and the NRL has run over the last 10 years, you’d have to say that it was a reactive business.
“That context has changed totally and now there’s an opportunity to think about it differently. When you start thinking about it differently and the cycle the business and the game can move into, then you’ve got to sit down and make sure you’ve got the right leadership and in that context we both came to the agreement ( to part ways).”
August 21st 2012 @ 3:34pm
Australian Rules said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
My my…the rumours were true.
His knowledge of the Sydney market will be an asset and despite Gallop receiving much unfair criticism from League fans, he is an excellent administrator with a very good record
Good news for the FFA.
August 21st 2012 @ 3:34pm
The (not so) Special One said | August 21st 2012 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
Not sure if fan engagement is a strong point with DG. He’s a lawyer not a marketing man. Am an NRL fan and always thought he did OK, but not the greatest operator.