Peter Filopoulos elected to Vicsport board

Liam Watson

Vicsport have completed their 2019 Annual General Meeting and confirmed that Peter Filopoulos has been elected as a non-executive Director, along with Jamie Parsons.

Ron Gauci has also been re-elected by Vicsport’s affiliate members as part of a voting process.

Filopoulos and Parsons and will join the Vicsport board consisting of Ron Gauci (Chairman), Catherine Harding, Margot Foster AM, Tim Large (ex-officio), Derek O’Leary, Susan Smith, Simon Brookhouse and Tanya Gallina.

Filopoulos and Parsons have been identified by Vicsport as people who will bring a vast amount of experience from different organisations throughout the sports industry and are both passionate about advancing Victorian sport.

You can read more about Filopoulos, Parsons and Gauci’s background below:

Peter Filopoulos:

  • Has 25 years experience as an accomplished senior C-Suite executive in sports administrations with Australia’s major sports and entertainment brands.
  • Is currently the CEO of Football Victoria (FV), overseeing the state’s 400,000 strong organised participation base across men, women, boys and girls of all abilities across more than 360 clubs.
  • His role at FV has seen a 24% rise in participation for 2018 in line with the four-year strategic plan.
  • Played a key role at Perth Glory before joining FV, having guided them through the salary cap issues they faced in the 2014/15 season, while ensuring he played a role in their business transformation for the future.
  • Has developed a strong reputation as a sports and entertainment executive, with past work including eight years with AFL clubs Hawthorn and North Melbourne, seven years at Marvel Stadium (Etihad at the time) and 18 months with National Sporting Organisation, Swimming Australia.

James Parsons:

  • Has a business degree, a graduate diploma in law and 30 years experience contributing to the sport, recreation, art and cultural sectors.
  • A previous board member at Little Athletics Victoria and Football Federation Victoria, along with leadership roles at Netball Australia, World Swimming Championships and Deaflympics Games.
  • Is the current CEO at Gymnastics Victoria where he has helped coordinate the Women in Sport Breakfast that has become a staple for the Victorian sporting calendar.

Ron Gauci:

  • Initially appointed to the Vicsport board in 2016 and served as Chairman since 2017.
  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
  • Significant experience in transformational strategy development.
  • Has held directorship positions with many sport related boards including CAMS Foundation, Softball Australia, Melbourne Aces Baseball Club and is a former CEO and Executive Director of the Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club.

Vicsport has offered its sincere gratitude to outgoing Directors Andrew Walton and Richard Amon.

Source and image credit: https://vicsport.com.au/blog/3487/ron-gauci-re-elected-peter-filopoulos-and-jamie-parsons-elected-to-vicsport-board

Friedkin Group to acquire majority stake in Everton

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Image credit: Everton FC Instagram

The Friedkin Group has reached an agreement to buy Farhad Moshiri’s majority 94% stake in Everton. The deal is subject to regulatory approval from the Premier League, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority.

It is believed to be worth in excess of $770 million, leaving Moshiri with little return on his substantial investment.

The US-based group is led by chairman Dan Friedkin, who also owns Roma. He has a net worth of $11bn AUD according to Forbes thanks to The Friedkin Group, which was founded by his father, Thomas H. Friedkin.

Everton would become the 10th club in the Premier League under majority American ownership, joining the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.

The deal would bring to a conclusion the damaging Moshiri reign. The British-Iranian businessman has invested more than $1445 million in the club since 2016, but many supporters have been deeply unhappy about his ownership because of its failure to hit successful transfers and its enormous debt which lead to points deductions in 2023/24.

Last season they were deducted points twice, amounting to a total of eight after an appeals process, for breaching Premier League financial rules on the level of losses clubs are allowed to make.

Everton, who have not played outside the top flight during the Premier League era, had been toying with relegation under Frank Lampard and current manager Sean Dyche, finishing in the bottom half. They started the season on only one win after six and it suggests they will spend a fourth season near the drop zone.

The Friedkin Group had agreed a deal in principle to purchase current owner Moshiri’s 94% stake in June but talks were called off a month later after the two parties failed to finalise an agreement.

That followed Miami-based 777 Partners being unable to a complete a deal earlier this year which Everton is probably fortunate to hear considering the toxicity around how they have run Standard Liege and Hertha BSC into a tough position.

In June, it was said that Friedkin hinted that he wanted Roma and Everton to sit at the top of a multi-club model, something that The Friedkin Group has yet to experiment.

Everton’s appeal to the Friedkin Group was said to be based on the club’s history, fanbase and the new stadium being built on Bramley-Moore Dock which will be used from the start of the 2025/26 season onwards.

The group in a statement said they remain fully committed to Roma and has no concerns regarding the two clubs co-existing under UEFA rules.

The Friedkin Group assumed control of Italian side Roma in 2020 and guided the club to Europa Conference League success under Jose Mourinho in 2022.

However, this success was short lived, sacking Mourinho only 10 months later before Daniele De Rossi’s short reign has the club in an awkward position in the Serie A.

After some shaky managerial appointments and sackings for AS Roma, Sean Dyche’s future also looks to be in a perilous position if he fails to turn the results around before the new year.

The Friedkin Group released a statement regarding the takeover agreement and their plans to stabilise the club.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement to become custodians of this iconic football club. We are focused on securing the necessary approvals to complete the transaction,” a spokesperson for the Friedkin Group said in a statement last week.

“We look forward to providing stability to the club and sharing our vision for its future, including the completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.”

Overall, this is fantastic news for Everton and its fanbase who were long overdue some clarity around the dark situation of their ownership.

The Friedkin Group are willing to overlook the huge stadium debt and inconsistent league results in an attempt to bring one of England’s oldest clubs back to its former glory which saw them win 9 Division One titles and 3 FA Cups.

The group will lead Everton through its new era, right before they permanently leave Goodison Park and enter the 53,000 capacity Bramley-Moore Dock which should increase the club’s revenue and bring a fresh feel to the club.

Melbourne Victory secures new sponsorship deal with Ferraro Dairy

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory Facebook page

Melbourne Victory Football Club has confirmed a new collaboration with Ferraro Dairy. Under the terms of the agreement, Ferraro Dairy’s brand will be prominently displayed on the back of the shorts for both the A-League Men’s team and Academy teams for the next two seasons.

Ferraro Dairy is an Australian family-owned dairy for 50 years, based in Tullamarine. They pride themselves on high-standard dairy products from Australian produce.

The two-season partnership represents a strategic move for both organisations, combining the prestige of one of Australia’s premier football clubs with a respected name in the dairy industry. By extending the branding to both senior and academy levels, the partnership shows a comprehensive approach to team sponsorship.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the alignment between the two organisations.

“We’re incredibly pleased to have Ferraro Dairy on our Men’s kit for the next two seasons and excited to have them along for our journey,” she said via press release.

“Ferraro Dairy is a proud local business that strives for a common goal in driving high standards and delivering a premium product for its loyal clientele.

“We’re thrilled to kick off our partnership with Ferraro Dairy as we head into our 20th season as a Club.”

Ferraro Dairy General Manager, Brad Ferraro echoed the sentiment of excitement about the new partnership.

“It’s an honour to partner with a Club like Melbourne Victory in its historic 20th season and we’re proud to be featured on its iconic kit, we’re excited to be part of their journey and share in the success both on and off the field over the next two years,” Ferraro said via press release.

As Melbourne Victory continues to strengthen its commercial portfolio its partnership with an Australian-based family business, with Ferraro Dairy further solidifies its position as a supporter of local businesses.

This commitment suggests a strong foundation for what both parties hope will be a mutually beneficial relationship.

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