David EdwardsBuckley Have Big ‘Football’ Boots To Fill
November 8th 2006 12:40
Today the FFA (Football Federation of Australia) announced their replacement for CEO, and essentially co-founder, John O’Neill weeks ahead of schedule.
The replacement they found has never in fact played the sport, and might not even know the basics of the sport that he is in fact charge of.
The replacement has never been in charge of a whole sporting code, and whilst he was a rather impressive resume managing successful businesses and fine tuning certain aspects of a football code, he has never had to make the decisions that could make or break a sport.
The replacement is none other than Ben Buckley, one of the operations manager for the AFL, and from one football fan’s perspective a thorn in the side for many seasons.
First of all, let me make it clear. I think Buckley has the potential to really step up as CEO. He has worked as manager for EA Sports, Nike, and of course the AFL, so his passion for sports and the ability to drive a winning side is impeccable. But he really does have a long row to hoe to make the grade.
The outgoing CEO, O’Neill, was passionate about the sport. Essentially begged into the position from the Prime Minister himself, he made sure that both the national competition, and the national squad would no longer be the laughing stock of the world game.
Fast forward almost two years later, and just look at the rewards. The A-League is getting stronger each year, and despite a few hiccups with key players and sides not reaching their potential, the crowds keep on coming back for more.
The national squad must also be thankful for all that O’Neill has done. Before he was at the helm, they were on a 32 year losing streak in any major qualifier. Now they have just returned from the World Cup essentially as heroes, and people who were driving buses around the local area a few years ago are now household names.
O’Neill has made his mark, and now its Buckely’s turn. Something that I think he might flail in.
O’Neill was a passionate soccer fan, and it was his dream about how big the code could go that made it succeed. Buckley is running a code that is in a successful, but in a rather vulnerable stage, with what many people would assume with no real in-depth knowledge of the sport.
O’Neill was CEO of the rugby union code before this appointment, and once more that was able to blossom with his touch. Buckley has made a lot of smart decisions with the AFL, including his role with the recent broadcasting rights, but his main role was organising the playing fixture each season, something that I though was riddled with mistakes and never used to its optimum.
Buckley might be able to bring the business sense to the position, which is vital for the FFA as they try to make soccer the more prolific sport with sponsors and supporters, but the passion to make it succeed might be missing from all decisions.
I will not go on the record to how Buckley might perform. All I will say is that in six months time we will have to see how he is settling, then decide if the board have scored a goal for themselves, or the opposition.
Until next time, sports minds.
The replacement they found has never in fact played the sport, and might not even know the basics of the sport that he is in fact charge of.
The replacement has never been in charge of a whole sporting code, and whilst he was a rather impressive resume managing successful businesses and fine tuning certain aspects of a football code, he has never had to make the decisions that could make or break a sport.
First of all, let me make it clear. I think Buckley has the potential to really step up as CEO. He has worked as manager for EA Sports, Nike, and of course the AFL, so his passion for sports and the ability to drive a winning side is impeccable. But he really does have a long row to hoe to make the grade.
The outgoing CEO, O’Neill, was passionate about the sport. Essentially begged into the position from the Prime Minister himself, he made sure that both the national competition, and the national squad would no longer be the laughing stock of the world game.
Fast forward almost two years later, and just look at the rewards. The A-League is getting stronger each year, and despite a few hiccups with key players and sides not reaching their potential, the crowds keep on coming back for more.
The national squad must also be thankful for all that O’Neill has done. Before he was at the helm, they were on a 32 year losing streak in any major qualifier. Now they have just returned from the World Cup essentially as heroes, and people who were driving buses around the local area a few years ago are now household names.
O’Neill has made his mark, and now its Buckely’s turn. Something that I think he might flail in.
O’Neill was a passionate soccer fan, and it was his dream about how big the code could go that made it succeed. Buckley is running a code that is in a successful, but in a rather vulnerable stage, with what many people would assume with no real in-depth knowledge of the sport.
O’Neill was CEO of the rugby union code before this appointment, and once more that was able to blossom with his touch. Buckley has made a lot of smart decisions with the AFL, including his role with the recent broadcasting rights, but his main role was organising the playing fixture each season, something that I though was riddled with mistakes and never used to its optimum.
Buckley might be able to bring the business sense to the position, which is vital for the FFA as they try to make soccer the more prolific sport with sponsors and supporters, but the passion to make it succeed might be missing from all decisions.
I will not go on the record to how Buckley might perform. All I will say is that in six months time we will have to see how he is settling, then decide if the board have scored a goal for themselves, or the opposition.
Until next time, sports minds.
| 43 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
