James Johnson set to be named new FFA CEO with rival Brendan Schwab no longer in contention
Former youth international James Johnson is set to replace David Gallop as the CEO of Football Federation Australia.
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Update: Group executive and former youth international James Johnson appears set to become the new chief executive of Football Federation Australia, after his rival for the post revealed he is no longer in contention.
Sports union boss Brendan Schwab is believed to have told friends that he is no longer in contention to succeed David Gallop at the helm of the governing body, after weeks of interviews had whittled a large field of candidates down to Schwab and Johnson.
It appears to leave the way clear for Johnson, head of external affairs for the City Group, to be offered the role, with Gallop having already left the FFA last week.
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FFA’s board has been deliberating for more than a week over which man to choose, after a third candidate – Brisbane businessman Robert Cavallucci – himself pulled out to become chief executive of Football Queensland.
It’s understood that the FFA board was split between Schwab and Johnson, and deliberations have gone on for days, including extra background checks and references on both men.
Schwab’s supporters had pointed to a long history of strategic thought in the Australian game, including the design for an Australian Premier League that the A-League is now moving towards in many facets.
However Johnson seems set to return to Australia after a decade working first for the AFC, as head of external affairs, and then head of professional football at FIFA where he dealt with many of the world’s biggest clubs and leagues.
For the past year he has been a senior vice president at the City Group, owner of Manchester City, Melbourne City and a variety of other clubs around the world.
In his youth he played for the young Australian national teams, though injury prevented him from appearing at the 1999 U17 World Cup when Australia reached the final.
Assuming he is appointed, Johnson will inherit a very different role to the one filled for seven years by Gallop.
The imminent split of the A-League from FFA’s control will effectively halve the role, leaving the new man to concentrate on the national teams and the game’s booming grassroots.
Originally published as James Johnson set to be named new FFA CEO with rival Brendan Schwab no longer in contention