It was not an upset victory, nor a big-name player signing, but Football Federation Australia’s announcement that chairman Frank Lowy will be succeeded by his son Steven could be the most significant moment in Australian football over the next year.
The chairman-elect has chosen his words carefully in the media over recent days, but when he told a press conference that his style of leadership will be democratic, a few ears pricked up.
“I intend to be a very consultative chairman, working with the new board … [seeking] to leverage off the unbelievably good work that’s taken place in the last decade … [to] take that to another level,” Lowy Jr said.
“Consultative” he may be, but the manner in which Lowy Jr received the role throws up questions about the way football is governed in Australia. Indeed, Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin has already expressed his disappointment that the nominations for four replacements on the FFA board were pushed through via an autocratic process.
In essence, the system was designed for the outcome. And it succeeded.
This move, which will influence everything from the financial viability of the sport to the structure of the A-League, raises two key questions: why was there so little resistance, and will it actually benefit the game in the long run?
A-League clubs put in an eleventh-hour bid to nominate Mal Hemmerling, the man who ran the Sydney Olympics. This was quashed by the state federations, who did not second the nomination.
Instead, the process, which was supposed to have taken into consideration some 70 candidates, resulted in putting forward men with close ties to the four outgoing board members. Uncanny.
But with this situation having dragged on for some time, and with some clubs evidently unhappy with the outcome, it does raise the question why nothing was done sooner, or in a stronger manner.
Clearly none of the FFA members – comprised the A-League clubs and state federations – felt they could realistically instigate change, not without losing their own power. It’s a sobering thought, and one which reveals the amount of control those at the top actually possess.
As candidates were thinned to only those selected by members of the existing board – which, incidentally appears to be in contrast with the process laid out in the FFA constitution – incumbent chairman Frank Lowy started to show signs it was time to move on.
His legacy to the game, particularly over the past 12 years, is arguably without peer. With the A-League launched, the Socceroos finally looking like they belong on the world stage, and lucrative commercial deals in place, so much has been achieved since Lowy seized the helm. If his son can take that momentum and inject some vitality to push the game further still, the end may have justified the means in some eyes.
However, for as long as an autocratic process is upheld, and a family dynasty allowed to rule over the people’s game, there will be doubts as to how far football really has evolved in Australia.
Are the key stakeholders across the country so untrustworthy that their preference for leaders cannot be upheld?
Critically, what should the football-loving families – who pay a premium for registrations to play for their local club – think about all this?
Steven Lowy may go on to achieve noteworthy things. His father Frank will no doubt go down in the annals of Australian football history. But, upon deeper consideration, surely this still reflects poorly on all concerned.
Bondy
Guest
Do you think one day 100.000 's of people nationally are going to turn around and start to call Aussie Rules, football ?. What on earth for . We have own football no need for others I thought that was fairly obvious in FFA.... You cant and dont represent Australia you're not significant enough nationally or internationally.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Pat I''m not sure I actually know which is your football. I'm guessing it's not soccer or Australian Football.
Pat malone
Guest
How is your football more real than mine?
Pat malone
Guest
The people's game- please stop it, I can't stop laughing
Pat malone
Guest
Fuss for pM. First item of business - ban all regional sports
Pat malone
Guest
Yes let's apply the same timeline and expectations of 90 years. Things gave changed and the world moves quickly now, don't apply the same time expectations.
Bondy
Guest
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
When did I criiticise Perry for talking AFL? Re-read my post. I called him a AFL fan talking negatively about football. Agendas mate, agenda.
AR
Guest
So let's get this straight... In an article devoid of anything AFL, Stevo decides to mention the AFL...and Perry says "don't bring the AFL into this"...and so you criticise Perry for talking about the AFL. Classic Punter logic.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"So, you’ve provided an opinion without any data to help you convince others you are correct. Nice work." Just Frank's own words I'm afraid. I think anyone reading my argument knows I have a point, including you I suspect. Whether it's right or wrong is up for debate. But I do like the irony of you asking for data. :) Perhaps we can trawl together through the Gemba Group for some credible data on it, or even better, ask James Hird himself if he knows? "I guess, with no AFL for the next 6 months, football fans just have to get used to this type of nonsense every day during the ALeague season." You just could't help yourself could you. You had to veer off topic again and bring a completely irrelevant point up. This comment is pretty funny also considering the amount of negative comments you have made on the AFL forum this year yourself. I think we are done here. You flinched first in your argument - off to bed now child.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Even if I wanted to start a new discussion here, the beauty of my argument is, I don’t need to know either of these completely irrelevant variables." So, you've provided an opinion without any data to help you convince others you are correct. Nice work. I guess, with no AFL for the next 6 months, football fans just have to get used to this type of nonsense every day during the ALeague season.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"1. How much per annum do you think he’s injecting into the ALeague? 2. Where do you think this cash is allocated?" You're changing the argument. I'm not going to get drawn into this. Even if I wanted to start a new discussion here, the beauty of my argument is, I don't need to know either of these completely irrelevant variables.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Because you are an AFL fan that comes on & bangs on about the negatives of football, you & all your other AFL cohorts.
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Yes i'm kinda agreeing with that as in time sinilar to how Man Utd or Cheksea, Liverpool are as big as England team or Real Madrid/Barcalona as big as Spain WS and MV in oarticular will be as big as the Socceroos for example In some respects a NSW or Vic team drawing either can amount to a substantial windfall to grasroots These teams can do more to promote Aus trade links to Asia as a conduit more than many other organisations SFC and MC similarish financially but the fan membership isn't quite there So, if the small clubs have a seat on FFA board they can articulate thei interests
Freddie
Guest
But look at who owns those three big clubs? (presuming you are referring to Victory, Sydney, WSW? And there's a point to be made that City should be considered part of the elite, given their financial power, and they certainly were in favour). Sydney - Traktovenko, brought into the club by Frank Lowy & co WSW - Paul Lederer, long-time associate of Frank Lowy Victory - ok, got me there. But Di Pietro has also been critical of the process in public via an article in the HS. I doubt anyone is saying football should return to the old days of club rule, but they surely they deserve a voice on the board? Even that has been denied them.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The Aleague clubs are responsible for all match day expenses during the H&A season. What exactly are the big expense line items that you think Frank Lowy is writing cheques to prop up the competition? Take your time to think about it. What would be the major expense items to administer the ALeague, outside of match day expenses (which the clubs cover) that requires Frank Lowy to dig deep into his pockets to prop up the ALeague? I can't think of any besides: * some marketing (if you follow Aleague you'd understand the marketing is close to zero) * general administration (ALeague HQ staff salaries, including CEO). I can't imagine these costs would be more than $1m/year and would be amply covered by ALeague corporate sponsorship revenue. If you still think Lowy is propping up the HAL with cash injections, give us a figure - you've obviously given it some thought & crunched some numbers to speculate Lowy needs to inject cash to keep the ALeague operating. So 1. How much per annum do you think he's injecting into the ALeague? 2. Where do you think this cash is allocated?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
@MF "What I hadn’t contemplated is that that had already been happening on annual basis the last 11 years (I’m not saying that has been happening, but that appears to be what you are implying)." Yep, that's exactly what I'm suggesting has been happening. The appointment of Frank's son as the new chairman has reinforced this belief even further for me.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Rick an interesting perspective. I'm confident that many support the FFA remaining under the control of the Lowy clan precisely because there is that hope that one day the family might leave the FFA with a bequest that allows them to write their own ticket well into the future. What I hadn't contemplated is that that had already been happening on annual basis the last 11 years (I'm not saying that has been happening, but that appears to be what you are implying).
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"If Lowy said the Aleague is financially not being able to stand on its own two feet yet, it means club owners are still having to prop up clubs." So basically the AFL and NRL are not financially viable if we draw that conclusion. There are plenty of clubs in both those competitions that need 'propping' up from year to year. I doubt Frank would say those competitions aren't 'financially' self-sufficient. It's a reasonable argument you have made though, just one I don't agree with for the reasons stated. I believe he meant the A-League as an entity is not financially viable yet, which is why I also got involved in the discussion about player wages a few weeks back. In my 'opinion' it's highly likely Frank is funding a shortfall in revenue when it comes to the A-League as a whole. It's also one of the reasons Gallop is playing hardball with the players association (what ever the A-League equivalent is) when it comes to player payments. It's pointless paying players an unsustainable wage, especially if part is coming from a private source. If my assumptions are correct, then it is perfectly plausible there could be financial ramifications upon the A-League should Steven not be appointed as the new chairman. I have made my argument, and I can see your side of the coin also. I just don't agree with it.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"there must be a shortfall somewhere. I’m suggesting Frank may provide that shortfall – therefore propping up the league." So, you don't know. Thank you. If Lowy said the Aleague is financially not being able to stand on its own two feet yet, it means club owners are still having to prop up clubs. In Europe, the biggest clubs in football need debt capital injections from banks. In AUS, some ALeague clubs need equity capital injections from equity owners. If ALeague clubs decided to enter the Poker Machine market - like the majority of AFL & NRL clubs - not one single club would need to be "propped up". But, I'm proud that, so far, HAL clubs have resisted preying upon gambling addicts to increase revenue. Recently, the CEO of the AFL admitted many AFL clubs are in financial distress and survived on AFL handouts .. which equates to "AFL clubs are being propped up by the AFL, who own the clubs".