Sydney FC broke all manner of records in the most recent A-League season but incoming chief executive Danny Townsend says it’s “only the beginning” for the powerhouse.
Former National Soccer League (NSL) player Townsend was appointed Tony Pignata’s successor on Tuesday, beating a field of almost 70 applicants.
The Sky Blues claimed the championship and premiership in 2016-17, with a 19-game undefeated streak one of many highlights.
There were also off-field gains in the form of significant financial and membership growth.
“Take nothing away from where we are but there’s still lots more to be done,” Townsend said.
“It’s only the beginning.
“The club has really stamped its authority on the league, both on the pitch and off it … but the potential for this sport in this country and this city is immense.”
Townsend, a co-founder of sports intelligence agency Repucom, boasts plenty of marketing and sponsorship expertise gleaned from dealings with the NBA, NFL, English Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga.
“I saw the good, the bad and the ugly,” he said.
He also experienced soccer’s dark days in Australia, having abandoned his NSL career at age 23 because of a serious knee injury.
“How long have you got? Townsend said, when asked to compare the state of the sport now and when he retired almost 20 years ago.
“It’s chalk and cheese.
“As an ex-player you sort of look back at that and wish you’re playing now.
“It’s fantastic the way the game has come along but there’s still a lot more to be done and this club is ambitious.”
The former Parramatta Power and Sydney United player, who officially starts at the Sky Blues on October 7, scotched the idea he’ll be stepping on the toes of master coach Graham Arnold.
“If you saw my career, you’d realise Arnie is in a better spot to make those decisions,” Townsend said.
“We’ve got a hell of a lot more people qualified to make football decisions at this club than me, and they’ve proven that with the way the club has performed in the last couple of years.”
The Auteur
Guest
A big portion of their members come from South Sydney/Sutherland Shire. So calling them East Sydney would be suicidal.
Ken Spacey
Guest
Perhaps you have to be outside looking in and I know they are sprucing up Allianz, but Sydney FC either have to near fill the joint or include effective sectioning off in the new design. For our 'premier" club as they see it, it looks absolutely awful on tv and yes they are not flying solo there but Allianz as it is looks worse on TV when underpopulated than most other HAL venues. In fact maybe that is the EPL appeal although other big leagues may play technically superior football, but the stadia meets expected crowds idea works well from 24,000 to 77,000 as applicable. So an ambitious CEO should look at how to fix this image killer not just for Sydney but the HAL in general..
Fadida
Guest
Agree
josh
Guest
Yes those 12000 members is proof they've really stamped it's authority off the pitch. If they bite the bullet and just accept they're a club for East Sydney they would actually be bigger than they are now.
R King
Guest
It's the sort of comments we all want our CEO's to make. Positive, ambitious and with a bit of drive I suspect. Also respecting others roles within the club, the mark of a good manager. Like most I don't want them to succeed at the expense of the REDS but if he lifts their club to new heights then the rest of us have to keep up and exceed. Good luck mate, hope it doesn't end in tears for you.
Newie
Guest
What's Tony Pignata doing?
Franko
Guest
CV is immaculate, but I don't want a dominant Sydney FC haha
Midfielder
Guest
He looks an excellent choice ....