Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro resigns after horror season

The fallout continues from Melbourne Victory’s poor season, with Anthony Di Pietro quitting as chairman.

Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro has stood down after a “season to forget” and called for the A-League and its clubs to “mutually engage” to ensure the competition prospers.

After an 18-year stint as a Victory director and 13 of those as chairman, Di Pietro is retiring from his role and “stepping away” from official club duties.

However, he will remain a major Victory shareholder, and has backed the club to turn its fortunes around after a horror season that included the Melbourne outfit being punished with massive fines and sanctions after its fans invaded the pitch at AAMI Park in December during a derby against Melbourne City.

“For Melbourne Victory and the league as a whole it’s been one of the more challenging season I can remember in our history in the competition,” Di Pietro said at a Victory lunch on Thursday.

“Season 18 (of the A-League) is going to be a chapter that most of us here would like to forget.

“Our A-League men’s side finished disappointingly 11th, missing the finals, and only just the wooden spoon.

“I wanted to sake sure that we did not point fingers or blame the actions of a few at the now infamous Christmas derby. or injuries, or departures, or referees, for where we finished our season.

“This off-season provides the club with the opportunity to unemotionally reflect, review and reset.”

Anthony Di Pietro has quit as chairman of Melbourne Victory. Picture: Aaron Francis

He also called for a competition wide review to address the A-League’s lack of exposure.

“We’re going to get there – if we make our leagues more visible,” he said.

“The league’s management team are working hard. They cop a lot of criticism, but they are working hard.

“They’re trying to deliver a strategy. We have a responsibility to support them, but also mutually engage as best as possible to bring success together.

“We need to make sure that our league can support its clubs like other codes do, so that be can go out there and market our product to fill stadiums, grow our brand and show Australia, not just at World Cup times, what football is all about.”

Di Pietro, whose replacement as chairman is current Victory director John Dovaston, urged the club to"stick together”.

“We know we will come out the other side bigger and better,” he said.

“This is a unique club and I have met and worked with some fantastic people, all of whom have shaped Melbourne Victory, and I’ll forever be grateful for the privilege of being a part of the club’s journey.”

Victory managing director Caroline Carnegie thanked Di Pietro for his “leadership, investment and drive”.

“Melbourne Victory could not be more thankful for the dedication, service and commitment that the chairman has provided to us all over the course of the past 18 seasons,” Carnegie said.

“There will be no other Anthony Di Pietro. The chairman, along with his family, have had an amazing journey and shaped and moulded this club into the powerhouse we know and love.”