Soccer will thrive under new regime, says Paul Lederer

Paul Lederer has promised the game will be in a better place now that the FFA governance fight is over.

Paul Lederer, owner of the Western Sydney Wanderers. Picture: Mark Evans

Powerful football identity Paul Lederer has promised the game will be in a better place and has given an unequivocal assurance that the sport’s grassroots will not suffer as a result of the sweeping Football Federation Australia governance reforms on Tuesday.

One of the key players in the almost three-year battle for power between the Lowy family, state federations and A-League clubs, the successful businessman admitted it was “sad and unfortunate” that the game had to go through such a long period of pain and recriminations” but believes “it is for the best”.

Under the reforms, FFA’s voting congress will move from 10 members to a more inclusive 29, who will carry 100 votes between them while a working group involving all member federations will be formed to sort out a new model for the A-League, which will almost certainly lead to an independent league for the 2019-20 season.

While Lederer, who regularly makes Australia’s rich list and is chairman and co-owner of the Western Sydney Wanderers, said he did not want to get into a personal war, he told The Australian he thought the whole saga could have been handled better.

Under chairman Steven Lowy, FFA fought the reforms, arguing they were not in the best interests of the game, that the A-League clubs would hold the power and that the grassroots would be serious affected.

Lederer, who has strong ties with the Lowy family, found himself on the opposite side of the divide.

“I prefer not to go down that road but, yes, it could have been handled differently,” he said. “It should not have been this way, but it is what it is.

“What happened yesterday will be good for the sport. Absolutely it is positive, we will be in a good position and it will only get better and better.”

Lederer downplayed his role in the reform process.

“I was just one of the boys … no different to anyone else,” he said. “All the clubs supported the process, there were no breakaways. We were all united. We all wanted change and we got it.”

As for the relationship with the Lowys — his uncle, the late Andrew Lederer, was very close to Frank — Lederer said it was a tough position to be in.

“To be honest with you, I hope it (the relationship) never changes,” he added. “Unfortunately, football being football, it is what it is.”

In terms of what Tuesday’s events means for the grassroots, Lederer rejected suggestions from the FFA that lower levels would suffer through diminishing finances because the A-League clubs would want to take a bigger cut.

“No chance … no, no, no,” Lederer fired back. “I am well aware of the importance of the grassroots. For me, it is everything. It is even more important than the A-League.

“You only have to look at what I am doing with the Wanderers. Look at my actions and not my words.

“Without the grassroots we have nothing.”

Lederer has done wonders at the Wanderers as he positions them to not just become the biggest club in the A-League but one of the biggest in Australian sport.

“If people don’t believe what I say about the grassroots then come out to Blacktown (where the Wanderers are based) and have a look at what we are building,” he says.

“We are going to invest an absolute fortune in the grassroots because they are the future.”