New look for WA Football Commission

The WA Football Commission has three new commissioners after controversial football administrator Grant Dorrington tonight failed in his bid to be re-elected.

There were four vacancies on the WA Football Commission and 23 nominations, although that list was culled to 11 before another two candidates withdrew and left just nine names on the ballot paper.

At the election tonight, Commissioner Brian O'Donnell was returned for another term, while marketing company boss Dixie Marshall, Curtin University chief operating officer Ian Callahan and former WAFL player Phil Lamb were also elected.

Their appointments follow the announcement this week that Tennis West chief Michael Roberts had been appointed chief executive. He replaced Gavin Taylor, who had resigned to take a postition with Ticketmaster.

Mr Taylor's leadership came under scrutiny in recent months after the details of WAFC salaries were leaked to the media, sparking a parliamentary inquiry into the way the organisation spent its money.

That inquiry led to findings that the commission's election process should be overhauled, with too much power placed in the hands of the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers and the WAFC itself. Between the three entities, they controlled 60 per cent of the vote.

It's understood candidates for the WAFC vacancies were quizzed about the parliamentary inquiry findings when they made their presentations to stakeholders last week.

The remaining unsuccessful candidates were: Indigenous businessman Gordon Cole, former WAFL player Allan Stiles, public relations veteran Nicole Moody and WA Women's Football League president Carolyn Hills.