It’s ‘Lowy lite’ as Nikou lands FFA’s top job

It was billed as a changing of the guard at the summit of Australian football, but to the cynics at least Monday’s FFA board elections has instead delivered a watered-down version of the Steven Lowy era.

The besieged chairman may have stepped aside but his staunch ally Chris Nikou has been announced as his successor at today’s AGM in Sydney, leaving the spectre of the Lowys still looming large over Australian football.

Melbourne-based lawyer Nikou, who was up for re-election, pipped PwC Australia managing partner  and now former GWS Giants co-chairman Joseph Carruzzi for the coveted role of chair, an outcome which has left the new six-strong board with three Lowy acolytes in place.

They are Nikou and sitting directors Kelly Bayer Rosmarin and Crispin Murray, both of whom have a year to run on their tenures.

All three joined Lowy in opposing the Congress reforms now finally being enacted after several years of bitter infighting among football’s stakeholders.

While three more directors can be co-opted to the board, as things stand today it could be claimed that a ‘Lowy lite’ regime is now at the helm.

Most crucially, the sitting chairman carries the casting vote in future decision making.

All of which might be good news for those looking to keep A-League expansion on track for next season, with Nikou a strong advocate of two new teams for 2019-2020.

In addition to Nikou and Carrozzi, ex-Soccer Australia chairman Remo Nogarotto, and former Capital Football CEO Heather Reid were elected to the board from a field of nine.

Nikou was assured of the backing of Bayer Rosmarin and Murray in landing the chairmanship, plus at least one other in what was a secret ballot.

A Congress source said: “Obviously the board can, and eventually will, nominate three more directors (in the coming months).

“But, on the surface, after the AGM you have three directors from the old board, one of whom holds a deciding vote.

“We’ve gone from a long campaign aimed at re-stocking the board with new blood to a position where, in all likelihood, it’s a case of going back to the future.

“I’m not sure this is what we all signed up for. You’ll basically still have the board that voted against reform in place.”