ALP powerbroker Stephen Conroy eyes Football Federation Australia chair position

Labor powerbroker and gambling lobbyist Stephen Conroy has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Westfield billionaire Stephen Lowy as the boss of Football Federation Australia.

Stephen Conroy is making a late push to become the boss of Football Federation Australia.

Labor powerbroker and gambling lobbyist Stephen Conroy has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Westfield billionaire Steven Lowy as the boss of Football Federation Australia.

The former senator is attempting to join the board of Australian soccer’s bitterly divided governing body, but the Herald Sun understands he is rapidly gaining support to become the next chairman.

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Mr Conroy has refused to rule out stepping back from his role as executive director of Responsible Wagering Australia — the peak body for online corporate bookies — if he wins the top job.

The former federal communications minister took control of the lobby group, which represents online­ gaming interests, including Betfair, Bet365, Sportsbet and Ladbrokes, in March last year.

It led former prime minister Kevin Rudd to slam Mr Conroy over conflict-of-interest concerns while he remained on the ALP’s national executive.

Mr Conroy told the Herald Sun today: “I would recuse myself from any discussion of a betting partner sponsorship”.

He made a pitch for election to the FFA board this week, pledging to restore trust and deliver financial transparency.

Departing chairman Steven Lowy — who took the job from his father Frank in 2015 in a closed-shop process that enraged many A-League clubs — called time on his tenure running the administration body earlier this year.

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Mr Conroy, a long-time president of Volleyball Victoria, is an ambassador for A-League club Melbourne City.

He said he had not nominated for the role as chair but could not rule out being drafted in.

“At Les Murray’s funeral, Craig Foster gave a beautiful call to arms for people who care about football to do something about the mess it is currently in,” he said.

Sydney-based PwC managing director Joseph Carrozzi is among the other leading candidates for the job, alongside polarising former Socceroo and commentator Craig Foster.