Latest news with #AnterIsaac
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Football Australia confirms RECORD deficit of $8.5million - after revenue grew to $124million in 2024
Football Australia chairman Anter Isaac has admitted he is frustrated after the national governing body recorded an $8.5million loss in 2024 - but is confident of future 'continued improvement.' The substantial deficit comes despite FA's revenue growing to $124million last year, with the figure confirmed at an annual general meeting on May 23. Isaac was also unanimously re-elected as chairman - before revealing FA has invested in 'enhanced financial strategy, management and governance systems' to address their financial challenges. In terms of the record $8.5million loss, Isaac pointed to a myriad of reasons, notably heavier investments in national youth teams and $4.1million owed from Australian Professional Leagues, the organisation who run the A-Leagues. 'We are not satisfied and (will) look towards continued improvement,' Isaac said. 'That is our obligation to grassroots football and all our football stakeholders.' The $8.5 million deficit also comes after James Johnson's shock resignation as FA chief executive officer earlier this month. Former Matildas star Heather Garriock has since been appointed interim CEO at Football Australia. Isaac believes Garriock offers 'an unmatched passion for the game, deep football knowledge, executive acumen and a clear vision for the future.' 'We are confident in her ability to lead Football Australia with strength, unity and a mindset of service that reflects the values of our entire football family,' he said. In his chairman's report, Isaac stated he was 'happy' with the $124million in revenue - before stressing it is vital 'there continue to be opportunities to increase the value of our brands and commercial activities to help reinvestment into our game from national teams and especially to the grassroots.' Isaac also wants to see a 'football ecosystem that is united, resilient and ready for the future.' In the short and long term, the FA are tipped to announce Joe Montemurro as the new Matildas coach in June, support the Socceroos' World Cup qualification campaign, and deliver a successful AFC Women's Asian Cup on home soil next year. Focus will also be placed on laying the foundation for a national second-tier competition, to be known as the Australian Championship. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Johnson was recently appointed to a new role in Canadian football as chief executive of Canada Soccer Business. Johnson will oversee the sport's commercial operations ahead of their home World Cup in 2026, to be also co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Football Australia chairman unhappy with significant loss
Football Australia's $8.5 million loss has angered chairman Anter Isaac, who has demanded improvement as part of the sport's national governing body's commitment to 'cost efficiency' and 'operational effectiveness'. The substantial loss for 2024 was confirmed at Friday afternoon's FA annual general meeting, where Isaac was unanimously re-elected as chairman. 'We are not satisfied and look towards continued improvement,' Isaac said. 'That is our obligation to grassroots football and all our football stakeholders.' Despite the $8.5 million deficit, confirmation has come after James Johnson's sudden resignation as FA chief executive officer earlier this month – FA's revenue grew to $124 million in 2024. 'While we are happy with this, we believe that there continue to be opportunities to increase the value of our brands and commercial activities to help reinvestment into our game from national teams and especially to the grassroots,' Isaac said in his chairman's report. 'The past year has been one of strategic renewal and disciplined ambition. Though it all, our focus remains clear – to build a football ecosystem that is united, resilient and ready for the future.' Isaac said Johnson's interim replacement, Matildas great Heather Garriock brought 'an unmatched passion for the game, deep football knowledge, executive acumen and a clear vision for the future'. 'We are confident in her ability to lead Football Australia with strength, unity and a mindset of service that reflects the values of our entire football family,' he said of Garriock, Isaac FA's 'priorities' were clear. They were finalising the Matildas' new coach, with Joe Montemurro's appointment expected to be confirmed next month, supporting the Socceroos' World Cup qualification campaign, delivering a successful AFC Women's Asian Cup next year, and laying the foundation for a truly national second-tier competition, the Australian Championship.
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Football Australia confirms $8.5 million deficit despite growth in revenue
Football Australia's $8.5 million loss has angered chairman Anter Isaac, who has demanded improvement as part of the sport's national governing body's commitment to 'cost efficiency' and 'operational effectiveness'. The substantial loss for 2024 was confirmed at Friday afternoon's FA annual general meeting, where Isaac was unanimously re-elected as chairman. 'We are not satisfied and look towards continued improvement,' Isaac said. 'That is our obligation to grassroots football and all our football stakeholders.' Despite the $8.5 million deficit, confirmation has come after James Johnson's sudden resignation as FA chief executive officer earlier this month – FA's revenue grew to $124 million in 2024. 'While we are happy with this, we believe that there continue to be opportunities to increase the value of our brands and commercial activities to help reinvestment into our game from national teams and especially to the grassroots,' Isaac said in his chairman's report. 'The past year has been one of strategic renewal and disciplined ambition. Though it all, our focus remains clear – to build a football ecosystem that is united, resilient and ready for the future.' Isaac said Johnson's interim replacement, Matildas great Heather Garriock brought 'an unmatched passion for the game, deep football knowledge, executive acumen and a clear vision for the future'. 'We are confident in her ability to lead Football Australia with strength, unity and a mindset of service that reflects the values of our entire football family,' he said of Garriock, Isaac FA's 'priorities' were clear.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Football Australia ‘not satisfied' with $8.5m loss amid concern over A-League debt
Football Australia's chair has admitted he is unhappy with his organisation's financial performance as the local game faces a raft of challenges including the search for a new chief executive and the A-Leagues' struggles with debt. FA recorded an $8.5m loss in 2024 according to the financial accounts presented at Friday's annual general meeting in Sydney, which included writing off more than $4m in bad debt, some from A-Leagues operator APL. Related: A-Leagues seek to stop 'arms race' with strict $3m salary cap FA chair, Anter Isaac, said he was 'not satisfied' with the loss, which represents almost 7% of revenue, in a year the organisation brought in a record $124m. He revealed FA has invested in 'enhanced financial strategy, management and governance systems' to address the financial challenges. He described 2024 as 'a year of strategic investment and structural reset to lay a stronger foundation for our game' but he promised that despite the financial situation meant that there would be no cuts to football programs. 'In a nutshell, it won't [affect them]. We're still going to continue serving and supporting all of our national teams and the football community and so forth,' the former president of Football New South Wales said. Former Matildas player, Heather Garriock, is now working as interim chief executive after the resignation of James Johnson earlier this month. Taking the position required her to resign as director. Her departure, alongside Jackie Lee-Joe, has left the FA with just two women on its six-person board, below its target of 40%. 'We take inclusivity and diversity very seriously,' Isaac said. 'So I expect that within the next four to six weeks, and don't hold me to that, but definitely no more than eight weeks, we'll get that addressed.' Isaac, a sports consultant by trade who was appointed chair in 2023, said the search for a new chief executive has begun, and the board was talking with two recruitment firms as well as football stakeholders. 'We want, moving forward, that anyone that enters or comes into this business understands that this company is an extension of our stakeholders, so this is very different from what's happened in the past,' he said. Related: 'We have to reset': Golden generation face rejuvenation amid next Matildas coach's balancing act | Joey Lynch Johnson, the former chief executive, was appointed in 2019 having played football at a high level, and worked at Fifa, the AFC and City Football Group. Earlier on Friday he was appointed chief executive of Canadian Soccer Business, the entity that handles the commercial rights of Canadian national teams and professional clubs, ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America. Garriock, also a former boss of Australian Taekwondo CEO and who has been on the board since 2021, declined to say whether she was seeking to lead the FA permanently. 'I've been given a mandate from the board in this interim period, and I'm fully focused on the interim period, and I haven't thought beyond that,' she said. The cash-strapped APL still owes FA millions of dollars and continues to accrue liabilities for ongoing expenses such as referees. Although Isaac admitted some of his organisation's $4.1m in write-offs involved debt from the APL, he said FA had no plans to relieve APL of their outstanding obligations. 'We are working hand in hand with them not only on strategic initiatives that will help prosper the game at the professional level and grassroots, but also dealing with some historical matters that we're very close to resolving,' Isaac said. Garriock also confirmed the next Matildas coach will be announced in June, allowing eight months of preparations before next year's Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Football Australia ‘not satisfied' with $8.5m loss amid concern over A-League debt
Football Australia's chair has admitted he is unhappy with his organisation's financial performance as the local game faces a raft of challenges including the search for a new chief executive and the A-Leagues' struggles with debt. FA recorded an $8.5m loss in 2024 according to the financial accounts presented at Friday's annual general meeting in Sydney, which included writing off more than $4m in bad debt, some from A-Leagues operator APL. FA chair, Anter Isaac, said he was 'not satisfied' with the loss, which represents almost 7% of revenue, in a year the organisation brought in a record $124m. He revealed FA has invested in 'enhanced financial strategy, management and governance systems' to address the financial challenges. He described 2024 as 'a year of strategic investment and structural reset to lay a stronger foundation for our game' but he promised that despite the financial situation meant that there would be no cuts to football programs. 'In a nutshell, it won't [affect them]. We're still going to continue serving and supporting all of our national teams and the football community and so forth,' the former president of Football New South Wales said. Former Matildas player, Heather Garriock, is now working as interim chief executive after the resignation of James Johnson earlier this month. Taking the position required her to resign as director. Her departure, alongside Jackie Lee-Joe, has left the FA with just two women on its six-person board, below its target of 40%. 'We take inclusivity and diversity very seriously,' Isaac said. 'So I expect that within the next four to six weeks, and don't hold me to that, but definitely no more than eight weeks, we'll get that addressed.' Isaac, a sports consultant by trade who was appointed chair in 2023, said the search for a new chief executive has begun, and the board was talking with two recruitment firms as well as football stakeholders. 'We want, moving forward, that anyone that enters or comes into this business understands that this company is an extension of our stakeholders, so this is very different from what's happened in the past,' he said. Johnson, the former chief executive, was appointed in 2019 having played football at a high level, and worked at Fifa, the AFC and City Football Group. Earlier on Friday he was appointed chief executive of Canadian Soccer Business, the entity that handles the commercial rights of Canadian national teams and professional clubs, ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America. Garriock, also a former boss of Australian Taekwondo CEO and who has been on the board since 2021, declined to say whether she was seeking to lead the FA permanently. 'I've been given a mandate from the board in this interim period, and I'm fully focused on the interim period, and I haven't thought beyond that,' she said. The cash-strapped APL still owes FA millions of dollars and continues to accrue liabilities for ongoing expenses such as referees. Although Isaac admitted some of his organisation's $4.1m in write-offs involved debt from the APL, he said FA had no plans to relieve APL of their outstanding obligations. 'We are working hand in hand with them not only on strategic initiatives that will help prosper the game at the professional level and grassroots, but also dealing with some historical matters that we're very close to resolving,' Isaac said. Garriock also confirmed the next Matildas coach will be announced in June, allowing eight months of preparations before next year's Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
