Football Australia CFO Veitch Departs amidst Ongoing Leadership Turmoil
SYDNEY – Football Australia’s chief financial officer, Chris Veitch, has resigned, adding to a significant period of upheaval within the association. The departure,confirmed today,follows a year marked by a mass exodus of key personnel and mounting financial challenges for the sport’s governing body.
Veitch’s exit comes as Football Australia searches for a permanent replacement for departed CEO James Johnson, with former Matildas star Heather Garriock currently serving as interim chief executive. Chair Anter Isaac has stated the search will be “global.”
The past 12 months have seen a wave of resignations and departures from Football Australia, including marketing and communications boss Peter Filopoulos, who left in September and whose surname was misspelled in a staff-wide email announcing his departure. Filopoulos’ entire media team, including the media managers for both the Socceroos and the matildas, have also left.
Further departures include chief of staff Alex Davani,legal boss Mel Mallam,and high-profile technical staff. Chief football officer Ernie Merrick and women’s technical director Rae Dower were both removed from their positions. brad Maloney resigned as coach of the Joeys (men’s under-17s) following a tournament in China in June,while Leah Blayney,former head coach of the Young matildas (women’s under-20s),now serves as an assistant coach with the Japan women’s senior national team. Mel Andreatta, a former Matildas assistant coach, is now head coach of Scotland. Replacements Alex Epakis and Emily Husband both previously worked with Garriock at Sydney University in 2017.
Garriock acknowledged the need for organizational change at Football Australia’s annual general meeting in May, stating the governing body would need to undergo a “right sizing.”
Adding to the challenges, Football Australia is currently facing a legal case in the Federal Court brought by A-League club Macarthur FC, seeking compensation of approximately $10 million. Macarthur alleges that Football Australia misled club owners during the A-League submission process. The organization also reported a record financial loss over the past year.
