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David Gallop is fast approaching his first year anniversary as the FFA CEO. Former NRL supremo Gallop succeeded in the post after it was left vacanted from Ben Buckley, who resigned after negotiating the TV deal for the A-League and the Socceroos.
In this article today, I will do an the analysis of both men, with a comparison of Gallop and Buckley’s achievements and failings as FFA CEO.
In the last 12 months, Gallop has brought a good sense of calm, experience, and stability. If anything, he has been a shining light for the code.
When he was boss of the NRL, he was often criticised for been reactive from the fans and the media.
One gets the feeling, that if he had another chance to be CEO of another sport, he might do things a little differently.
In November last year, he was given that chance.
In his tenure thus far, Gallop has become more proactive in his role.
Coming out with statements in recent times like, “Football will become the largest and most popular sport in this country”, was not only bold, but it was the right move.
As CEO, he is a salesman. With that statement, he knew it was going to get attention from fans and journalists from other codes.
Every sporting CEO in the country should aim to be “the largest and most popular sport in this country”, otherwise, what’s the point?
A positive step that Gallop has done is the radio deal with the ABC. For football fans, who don’t have Fox, to get consistent radio coverage is brilliant. In the past, there were “bits” and pieces” of radio coverage, which was very hard to follow.
Another good move by Gallop was acquiring Harvey Norman as sponsor (in collaboration with LG Electronics) for Friday night A-League on SBS. They signed on for three years to the tune of more than $1 million a season.
In his old job at the NRL, Harvey Norman was a major sponsor of the State of Origin series for 15 years.
That sponsorship agreement ended late last year.
Gallop also had a working relationship with then NRL board member Katie Page, who is CEO of Harvey Norman, and the wife of Gerry Harvey, Chairman/ Co-founder of Harvey Norman.
It’s fair say that Gallop’s old connections from his past job are now bearing fruit for the A-League.
Also acquiring a short term TV deal with Channel Seven for those two high profile friendlies of Man U and Liverpool not only gave the code some revenue from the broadcasting arrangements (estimated at $2 million) but it also gave the code some exposure, right in the middle of the NRL/AFL seasons.
On a low note (although nitpicking from my behalf) the two things Gallop needs to do is to find a major sponsor for the Socceroos after Qantas pulled the pin and to help the FFA to offload it’s ownership from the WSW.
In both cases, both tasks should be achieved easily.
In 2006, Buckley came into the job with an impressive CV which included holding positions in Nike and EA Sports, and was the AFL’s Chief Operating Officer before he moved to the FFA.
A good expectation surrounded the former VFL player. But sometimes, things don’t always pan out.
Throughout his six years, Buckley did came across as a tentative, cautious, nervous man with the whole weight of the world on his shoulders.
When you’re in that state of mind, how can you run a football code?
He may well be a capable administrator as his CV suggests, but when your supposed to be the leading figure of a code, it is a different ball game.
During his time as CEO, the FFA were trying to bid for the World Cup to come to Australia.
In December 2009, a public spat erupted between the AFL and FFA over the use of Etihad Stadium.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou declared Etihad Stadium off limits as a world cup venue, after the FFA had plans in place to use the venue as part of the bid.
During that spat, Demetriou described Buckley as been disrespectful.
You would have thought that in Buckley’s old job, he would’ve had good working relationships and connections, similar to what I said earlier about Gallop with Harvey Norman and the NRL.
Australia lost the World Cup bid, there and then, 12 months before the announcement.
Buckley’s negotiations were at fault, well before FIFA’s crazy decision in awarding the bid to Qatar.
Another black mark against Buckley was expansion.
Bringing in two expansion teams, North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United after four seasons was a bad move.
All the FFA had to do was wait another 12 months for Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory’s five year exclusivity clause to expire (meaning no second team in Sydney and Melbourne for the first five years of the A-League).
Once that happened, the FFA could have brought in second teams in Sydney and Melbourne.
Eventually Melbourne Heart and Western Sydney Wanderers came into the comp, at the expense of the Fury and GCU, who both folded due to poor planning, execution and a heavy reliance on rich owners to keep those clubs afloat. Buckley had to be held accountable for both of those clubs folding.
Even with Melbourne Heart coming in, debate rages today, if that club still has a future thanks to a lack of identity and point of difference from Melbourne Victory.
But on a bright note for Buckley, in the last six months of his tenure, he did negotiate a TV deal which was worth $160 million over four years.
Part of that TV deal, Buckley finally brought the A-League on free-to-air. And of course, he also helped set up WSW.
Those two achievements are his legacy to the beautiful game.
In conclusion, has David Gallop outperformed Ben Buckley?
At this stage, it’s even stevens.
Buckley bringing the A-League on free-to-air and introducing a club that is a potential giant in Australian sport is nothing to be sneeze at.
I’m sure if Buckley has another opportunity as a sporting CEO, he would do a better job. Who knows, with the way Cricket Australia is travelling at the moment, CEO James Sutherland could be on his way out.
As for Gallop, he has only been at the job for 12 months. If he continues his proactive approach, then the code will continue to surge, and could well be on it’s way to been the largest and most popular sport in the country.
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