Who should head the A-League?

agree on Patterson ... every time he's been front and centre media wise has always come across well. Both to football fans and the broader public, he has a calm, intelligent way of putting football's case forward when need be.

how much experience does Schwab have beyond his unionist roles? More time in the commercial sphere would be better first. We may need a few dozen more billionaires to support any league run by a unionist! :)

haha "man after my own heart" ... my shortlist continuing in that vein 1. Ron Paul 2. George Soros 3. Noam Chomsky ;)

so u want someone who could butt heads with AFL bigwigs for Mel & Kochie? They already have a 'strong media performer' in Kyle Patterson IMO. Push the head of Communications forward to do more of it. would they be better off with another Gorman type who was more of a background figure ... which continues to allow actual football people (players, coaches etc) to be in the spotlight.

i think he just falls into the category of having been too 'in the habit' of critiquing strategic and structural issues in the game for too long. Much like Gatt. There was a period where this was required for the game. Things have progressed from there, but Fink is stuck in the only mode he knows. If he ever became an actual Football analyst maybe i'd read him seriously.

An article in itself and a good one, Mid, "A 7 year analysis of the FFA". I agree with most of the scoring and its the A-League that has been neglected the most. The issue with the likes of JF is that he asks the questions that FFA do not want to answer. Craig Foster was also the same but has toned this area down,obviously if he wants to remain at SBS, where as JF was not so compromising. For that i do admire, its what keeps the FFA on their toes. Its justa shame that Australian media outlets have shut him out. If the game is to be criticised then i would rather one of our own exploiting our faults, weaknesses and asking the tough questions. Even the hardest of Football fans get flared up, angry , annoyed, even turn or disagree with each other from time to time (wink wink mid/qsaf) ,and all because we have an opinion of Football. We have been cursed for loving the world game, sometimes i wish i was just an aussie rules man, because then i just wouldnt care so much. Leave you guys with a wise ol comment from an old man (my dad), in your finest wog accent please. " if i dost like it, i tink nobody like it"

Gallop anyone.

You left one A. Demetriou off that list - you of all people !!

To be honest outside of Lowy and Gorman, there are not that many great football administrators within Australia at the moment and this is something we need to strengthen and improve like our playing and refereeing standards. The experiment of bringing in someone from another code has failed with Buckley and I really can't see any bright sparks on the horizon. The best one is Gorman and he is likely to succeed Lowy as FFA chairman when Frank retires.

Mid, don't worry its only a temporary appointment. I agree Lyle Gorman is an excellent football administrator and a top bloke as well. He's done an amazing job at CCM and lately in resurrecting the A-League from a very precarious position to looking at stability and even more growth through West Sydney, especially after replacing GCU. With all the positive vibe now coming out of WS and with a good start to the season the FFA will sell West Sydney within the first season and Gorman will return to be the head of the A-League. I don't think the FFA will fill his position while Lyle is away and Lowy and Buckley will have to roll up their sleeves to cover for him in the meantime. I'm very disappointed with Kyle Patterson the head of FFA Corporate Affairs and Communication. What communication? So much good news coming out for the FFA and the A-League lately as it rises from the ruins and where is the FFA's top media spokesman to tell everyone about it - nowhere to be heard.

What is Jesse Fink's problem and what has the FFA and Frank Lowy ever done to this guy to make him so bitter and twisted about Australian Football - its an obsession bordering on mental illness. The other disturbing thing is that he has a regular column on ESPN. What the hell would US and Asian sports fans think of Australian football and the A-League after reading his columns. Surely the FFA has some case to sue people like him for damages and bringing the game into disrepute.

Johnno You are right about Terry Butcher he had no knowledge on how to coach... not the best example...

Sanches you don't need to know the football landscape plenty of foreign coaches have come in with no knowledge. Terry Butcher, and Jon Van Schipp as examples.

Lyall Gorman did a decent job in the chair. You could tell he's an honest bloke! But he isn't media savvy, and that's what the role needs. I think his new position suits him to a tee. He'll do a great job at West Sydney. Onto who should replace him, it's a tough one. Everyone keeps talking about Peter Wilt. I didn't know much about him, but I've done some research. He was on a forum last night on the 442 website, you can see that he's got the pedigree. But the fact that he's American and doesn't know the Australian and Asian football landscape, or how to deal with our media is a massive issue, and for this reason I don't think he's the best candidate. For me, the best man for the job is Brendan Schwab. Simple as that. When he speaks, he gets the message out and he commands the room. Everyone listens. He knows Australian Football inside out, speaks really well, but above all knows how to dominate the mainstream media. The major stumbling block is his relationship with Lowy and Buckley. They've butted heads for years, while Schwab was looking after the players union. For this reason I think it'll be hard for him to take the role. But I think he'd be perfect. Apart from those 2 I can't think of anyone else.

If I were you, I'd be more worried about who's leading - or, rather, who is NOT leading - MelbCro. Your once mighty team is sitting 2nd bottom, which is a relegation spot, with 1 win & 5 losses. And, this week-end you go to Lakeside to play SMFC - another former mighty team that's spectacularly mediocre in recent years. MelbCro in Victorian State League Division 1 next year?

I don't care who leads the A-league. I'm more interested in who leads the FFA.

Basil was a top class manager too, treated way to harshly by some in football circles.

I've heard George Soros has brilliant managerial skills and a keen eye for ball control. Maybe he could run it. Mate of Lowy's too.

Can't believe you ommitted Basil Scarsella ..........

"Dosnt Kimon Taliadoros have a management back ground? Would he be a candidate?" Absolutely Cpaaa, Kimon must be wondering what he has done wrong to be continually overlooked by Frank Lowy as his first Lieutenant or an executive of Football in the FFA.. The simple answer to that is; he is a much better qualified football person then Frank Lowy as a leader of a Football Commission---which maybe Frank Lowy fears deep down. I see Kimon as the future chairperson of a Football Commission to run the FFA made up of representatives from the clubs and stake holders of the Australian Football family. Frank Lowy runs the FFA like his own Westfield empire not embracing the club owners as partners, but like tenants to a Shopping Mall---on a take it or leave it bases.. We have just seen what nearly happened with Nathan Tinkler who could have been lost to Australian Football, but thankfully it was resolved. However, the next future owner may not be so forgiving..