Soccer Australia chief executive resigns

The chief executive of Soccer Australia (SA) David Woolley has resigned, SA said on Saturday, 11th August.

"He resigned yesterday and that was effective immediately," SA spokesperson Anita Bulan told Reuters.

In a busy week for soccer in Australia, the sport's national ruling body has welcomed a new chairman, Ian Knop, and a new president, former New South Wales state premier Nick Greiner.

Bulan said Woolley was believed to have gone on holiday and was not contactable. SA released a statement later on Saturday regarding his resignation.

"David has decided to seek another challenge... He has done an excellent job and has many achievements of which he can be very proud," Knop said in an SA statement.

"The fires of change that were lit with the ousting of Soccer Australia chairman Tony Labbozzetta last Saturday have flared into a bushfire, and the hunt is now on for a high-profile sports executive to take on the critical job of turning the game's fortunes around," The Age newspaper said on Saturday.

Woolley, closely associated with soccer's old guard in Australia, had bowed to the inevitable and walked after six years, the report said.

"During his time in the top job, soccer produced more high-profile players than ever before, but still did not become a mainstream sport," The Age said.

Strengthen Links
His successor would need to strengthen SA's links with the corporate world and commercial television, the newspaper said.

Woolley's departure on Friday coincided with SA's announcement that a semi-autonomous commission would be established to run the National Soccer League (NSL).

Knop has pledged to repair the sport's image and health, appointing the media-savvy and well-connected Greiner as president and announcing an audit of SA's books.

"He (Knop) took this further with the decision to spin off the NSL, the public face of the Australian game, and give it greater responsibility," The Age said.

"The inclusion of representatives from all 14 clubs on the new commission (the old NSL executive contained only seven members and acted in an advisory capacity to the board of SA) should ensure that the league's agenda will not be hijacked by a handful of individuals acting in concert."

Knop said the establishment of a new commission was a significant step forward for the NSL.