Following the release of Northern NSW Football’s (NNSWF) Future of Football Review recommendations, member zones have called for a special meeting to sack five of NNSWF’s six directors and replace them with their own nominations.
The letter is believed to have been signed by representatives from some, if not all of the six zones that sit under NNSWF and administer grassroots competitions – Macquarie, Hunte Valley, Newcastle, Mid North Coast, North Coast and Far North Coast.
The decision taken by the member zones follows NNSWF’s publishing of their Future of Football Review recommendations which suggested reform recommendations to the zones and premier competition standing committees.
The challenge comes as NNSWF elected to follow Principle VII of Football Australia’s VI Principles for the Future of Australian Football that ‘identifies transitioning towards a modern, fit for purpose governance framework for football in line with global standards and best-practice sports governance in Australia as one of the key challenges facing the game’.
After 10 months of consultation, the independent review’s final report showed that despite healthy participation, football’s future growth in northern NSW is hindered by:
- Unclear roles and responsibilities
- A lack of accountability
- Dysfunctional relationships
- Poor communication
The review confirmed stakeholders at every level of football reported a lack of resources and support for game development. Furthermore, the review identified that volunteers feel undervalued, under resourced, overburdened and disempowered.
“Change is required to ensure football is affordable for families and can better support clubs, volunteers and participants,” Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland said in response to the decision made by the member zones.
“Northern NSW Football plans to invest in a reform plan respectful of the current system with more power and a stronger voice for clubs in decision making.
“The zones’ claims regarding the board’s direction, transparency and accountability are unfounded. The depth of the stakeholder consultation throughout the review speaks for itself. The fact the board had the courage to commission a review which they knew was not supported by the zones and publicly revealed the game’s shortcomings reaffirms their accountability and willingness to act in the best interests of the game.
“Unfortunately, consultation with some zones throughout the review was plagued by stonewalling, misinformation, fear mongering and denial that the game can be better. NNSWF and the zones impose levies of $4.2m a year on players. Good governance and stewardship demand decision makers constantly evaluate and ensure resources are deployed efficiently and effectively.”
Northern NSW Football has fully endorsed the independent review’s recommendations and will implement a reform plan across the remainder of 2022 and beyond.
Eland added that the reform plan would not come at additional costs to community footballers and would be funded in the short-term by the game’s retained earnings. The member federation component of registration fees will not increase in 2023.
