A-League soccer team Perth Glory will have new owners from April 2 when three prominent Western Australian businessmen take over the ailing club's license with plans to reverse its fortunes.
A-League soccer team Perth Glory will have new owners from April 2 when three prominent Western Australian businessmen take over the ailing club's license with plans to reverse its fortunes.
The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) announced today that mining and media entrepreneur Tony Sage, Karma Resorts chairman and owner John Spence and AFG chairman and managing director Brett McKeon have each taken an equal one third share in the club.
Negotiations between the trio and the FFA originally began in August 2006 and ended when FFA chairman Frank Lowy signed off on the deal last Thursday.
The new owners plan to appoint a new CEO within weeks, to replace FFA-appointed CEO Michelle Phillips.
Head coach Ron Smith and assistant coach David Mitchell will both remain at the club.
Speaking at Members Equity Stadium, FFA head of operations Matt Carroll said the new owners of Perth Glory would give Western Australia much to cheer about and being privy to their recruitment plans, suggested there would be much to celebrate in the coming season.
"Hyundai A-League licenses are not just handed out to anybody. We've taken our time and have said from the very beginning that we wanted to get the right ownership fit for the Perth Glory," Mr Carroll said.
The Glory has been managed by the FFA since May 2006, after long-time owner Nick Tana bowed out.
The full Perth Glory announcement is pasted below:
Perth Glory Football Club has secured its long term future with the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) today announcing that a consortium of three prominent West Australian businessmen have been granted the licence to run the WA based Hyundai A-League franchise.
Mining entrepreneur Mr Tony Sage, leading financial services director Mr Brett McKeon and property developer Mr John Spence have been granted a licence to operate Perth Glory FC and will officially take charge from Monday 2 April 2007. Each of the new owners will retain an equal one third (1/3) share in the club.
The new owners are ardent football fans with strong links to the Western Australia business and sporting communities. With a wealth of experience across a broad range of industries and a strong network of contacts throughout Australia and internationally, particularly in key Asian markets, Perth Glory is well positioned to again make a major impact on the national competition.
"We have supported Perth Glory since the club's inception and enjoyed their great successes from the sidelines. We were happy to throw our hat in the ring and stand up and be counted," Mr Sage said.
"We are excited by the opportunity to play a part in making the Glory into one of the leading football teams in Australasia.
"This club has a proud history, quality players, experienced coaching staff, and a loyal supporter base. We feel that in a short time Perth Glory can again be challenging for the Hyundai A-League Championship and a place in the Asian Champions League," Mr Sage added.
Perth Glory has been managed by the FFA since May 2006 and the sport's governing body has spent considerable effort to ensure new owners with the vision and investment to take the club forward could be found.
The timing of the ownership transition will allow for ample planning and strategies to be implemented to ensure the club is well prepared for their third Hyundai A-League campaign and beyond.
One of the key priorities laid down by the new owners is to re-engage WA sports fans, and in particular the local football community, with Perth Glory.
"Each of us in the partnership is competitive by nature and that's the attitude we will bring to the club. West Australian's are passionate about their sport and by providing exciting and competitive matches we are confident we can see the support grow," Mr
McKeon said.
Head Coach Ron Smith and Assistant Coach David Mitchell, who will both remain at the club, have met with the new owners to update them on the recruitment process of players for the 2007-08 season.
"Ron has discussed the playing list with us and highlighted potential recruits. We are genuinely excited about the quality of the players he is targeting," said Mr McKeon.
"We are committed to the efforts to recruit and retain the players needed to ensure that Perth Glory is a leading team in the competition.
"We are well on the way to securing the services of some outstanding footballers and expect to be in a position to be able to announce signings in the near future," Mr McKeon added.
Mr Sage, Mr McKeon and Mr Spence will continue in their various business activities but have expressed a desire to be actively involved in the club.
A new Chief Executive Officer is expected to be appointed in the near future and Mr Sage thanked outgoing CEO Ms Michelle Phillips for her assistance in the transfer of the licence.
"It is a natural business process during a change of ownership that a new Board appointed CEO is put in place. This new appointment will enable us to take the club into its next phase and we wish Michelle all the best in her future business pursuits," Mr
Sage said.
A buoyant feeling surrounded today's announcement and Mr Spence said the new directors wanted to establish a goal of unlimited potential at Perth Glory.
"We are extremely excited about having the opportunity to be involved with Perth Glory and feel that we bring skills and experience to the table which will help restore the glory years to Western Australian football," Mr Spence said.