Sydney Olympic Games bid boss Rod McGeoch to be part of major review into Alen Stajcic sacking

Already dealing with one political minefield in examining the merits of a drop-in cricket wicket at the SCG, Rod McGeoch looks set to walk into another as the FFA seek answers over Alen Stajcic’s sacking.

Rod McGeoch is expected to accept the Stajcic sacking review invitation.

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The man who masterminded Sydney's successful bid to host the 2000 Olympics will join the inquiry into the sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic last January.

Consultant Rod McGeoch has been asked to join a panel of three experts to conduct a review of Football Federation Australia's senior management, including the build-up to the decision to sack Stajcic just five months before this year’s World Cup.

Already dealing with one political minefield in examining the merits of establishing a drop-in cricket wicket at the SCG, McGeoch is seen as both a respected figure in sports management but also independent of football’s politics, with sentiment over Stajcic’s exit still rancorous in some quarters.

Rod McGeoch is expected to accept the Stajcic sacking review invitation.

Deputy chair of the SCG Trust and on the board of Destination NSW, McGeoch is expected to accept the invitation to be part of a review into an episode that hugely damaged FFA’s reputation.

McGeoch was appointed by the SCG Trust to examine the AFL’s request to dig up the existing surface and replace it with a drop-in wicket at the historic ground, a move fiercely opposed by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.

It’s believed two senior businesswomen have also been approached to join the FFA panel whose remit is also likely to include the way the governing body carried out Stajcic's dismissal, leading to a formal public apology to him from both the organisation and one of its directors, Heather Reid.

It’s understood that the exact parameters of the review have not yet been set, though the FFA board is keen to get it underway a month after the Matildas were knocked out of the World Cup at the round of 16 under Stajcic’s successor, Ante Milicic.

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic was sensationally sacked back in January.

The performance of senior personnel is almost certain to come into focus, though CEO David Gallop has resigned and is serving notice before departing at the end of the year while company secretary Jo Setright left the FFA in April.

FFA’s board is aware it has a unique opportunity to reshape the organisation’s leadership and culture in the wake of the agreement with A-League clubs for the competition to become independent of FFA control.

Gallop’s successor will oversee a governing body focused on the top and bottom of the game, the national teams and the grassroots, and the figure appointed is almost certain to come from within the game for the first time since Frank Lowy was tasked with rebuilding the whole sport more than a decade and a half ago.

John Didulica, CEO of the players union, is seen as the leading candidate, though club CEOs including Tony Pignata of Perth Glory and Sydney FC’s Danny Townsend have also been linked with the role.

FFA declined to comment on the imminent review while McGeoch was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.