In Episode 12 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, Former A-League head coach Phil Moss explored the topics of coaching at the highest level in the country, how we can do better to support coaches at the professional level and the mentors that shaped his career in both business and football.
In the detailed discussion, Moss spoke about the beginnings of FCA back in 2018, his time as inaugural president and what motivated him to build the organisation for coaches because of his own experiences.
“First of all, it started when I got the sack from the Central Coast Mariners. I basically had my mobile phone, my lawyer who was unbelievable, Darren Kane and my family, that was it,” he said.
“There was no organisation that was there to support me, in fact I had a number of conversations with senior execs at Football Australia at the time to try and settle things in an amicable way, but that fell on deaf ears until the 11th hour. That was once the court case was decided.
“Things like that really motivated me to help set up an organisation that was there to throw a collective arm around coaches for their journey.”
The importance of FCA in the Australian coaching space cannot be understated, with a failure of a ‘collective arm’ and fair conditions for coaches at all levels in the country, Moss describes why the FCA is necessary in the space.
“Football Australia gets coaches qualified through their badges, there’s a bit more professional development going on now which is good, but there was no organisation that would stay the course with coaches when they’re in jobs, out of jobs or transitioning,” he said.
“Mental wellbeing as well, just things that coaches need around them to, set them up for success and not just survive, but actually thrive.
“When Glen Worry and James Kitching approached me, I was at Sydney FC at the time and I had the encouragement of Steve Corica and Graham Arnold saying this is something that would be right up your alley given your experiences. FCA started and I presidency wasn’t on the mind but it happened.”
Whilst Football Coaches Australia still don’t have a proper seat at the table, there has been a lot of growth and development over the last seven years that has given them a voice that is becoming hard to ignore by Football Australia.
Click hear the full interview with Phil Moss, on Episode 12 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast – available on all major podcasting platforms.
