The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has today confirmed that a Primeland Group-led consortium is the new owner of Perth Glory Football Club.
Within an 11-week process that started from July 2023, the APL has identified Primeland Group as the successful bidder to takeover Perth Glory’s licence and club ownership.
The Primeland Group-led consortium is headed by Robert Brij and John Nekic, who will be directly involved in the running of Perth Glory.
A business magnate, Brij is chairman of Primeland, a developer specialising in building and investing in sustainable and visionary projects.
Nekic will be the Executive Chairman-elect of Perth Glory and was involved in the bid alongside Primeland Group. John is an entrepreneur who’s been associated at various levels of Australian football for over four decades, holding a range of roles as Chair, CEO, Committee Member and Adviser.
Primeland Group is an organisation with worldwide links, having a presence in Australia, Singapore, UK, India, UAE and Europe. Their portfolio of work features real estate, hotels, business parks, luxury residential developments, private equity, movies and media production.
In an official media announcement, all key stakeholders spoke about the new era this ownership represents.
Australian Professional Leagues CEO, Danny Townsend:
“Perth Glory is one of Australia’s oldest professional football clubs and we are pleased to welcome Robert Brij and the Primeland Group to the A-Leagues as the club enters a new era.
“The incredible volume of interest during the bidding process for the licence is testament to the opportunity that exists for football in Western Australia. Together with the recent announcement of the preferred bidder for Auckland’s expansion team, the strength of interest in the A-Leagues is stronger than ever both domestically and internationally.
“We are grateful to the Western Australian Government for its strong support during this transition period and into the future. I also want to acknowledge and thank the fans for their passion for the Glory and club management, staff, players and coaches for their dedication and commitment.
“The club has been focused on their preparation for the 2023-24 season and has already kicked off the women’s season with a win in its opening game. We wish the new owners, the club and Perth Glory fans all the best for the seasons ahead.”
Perth Glory Owner, Robert Brij:
“We are honoured to have been handed this great responsibility, acknowledging we are just the third ownership group to lead the club in 27 years.
“We believe in the potential of football, the potential of the A-League and particularly in the potential of Perth Glory.
“At its best, Glory was a representation of Perth and WA, and we are eager to reconnect, especially with the fans, and bring everyone along for the journey in what we believe will be an exciting future for the club.”
Perth Glory Chairman Elect and Owner, John Nekic:
“We are energised by the support of the WA State Government and Local Councils and their desire to engage and work with us on helping Glory realise its full potential.
“Perth Glory’s role in the history of Australian football is profound, born from the inspiration of the Perth Kangaroos, and played a key role in the formation of the A-League. We want to continue that trailblazing spirit. In the first instance, we are eager to engage, listen and understand the opportunities that exist for Glory.”
Formal completion is scheduled to take place in early November. Full licence approval is subject to successful completion of the necessary regulatory processes by Football Australia (FA).
Perth Glory’s opening match in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men is against Newcastle Jets on Sunday October 22 at 4:45pm (AWST) 7:45pm (AEDT). In the Liberty A-League Women, Perth Glory won their opening match, and will play the Newcastle Jets on Sunday October 22 at 2:00pm (AWST) 5:00pm (AEDT) in a double header at HBF Park in Perth.
