Lyall Gorman Leaves Mariners to head A-League

Football Federation Australia (FFA) have announced that Lyall Gorman has been appointed Head of the Hyundai A-League.

Gorman will step down from his post of Executive Chairman of Hyundai A-league club the Central Coast Mariners to take up the position.

Explaining the appointment FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley stated “Lyall brings a wealth of experience to the position and in depth knowledge of football and sports management operations.

“He will be a valuable support to me as we continue the Hyundai A-League expansion program and plan for a fantastic sixth season of our national competition.

“Having been involved in the Hyundai A-League from the beginning, Lyall understands what it is like to manage a club at the coal face.”

Gorman has more than 30 years of experience in senior management, project management and administration in both the public and private sectors and was formerly the head of a major sporting academy.

In November 2004 he took up the position of founding Chief Executive and later Executive Chairman of the Central Coast Mariners, one of the eight founding clubs in the Hyundai A-League.

Speaking of his new role Gorman explained that “there is a real opportunity to add value to the sum of the parts of the Hyundai A-League and I look forward to working with all clubs.”

Current Mariners Chief Executive John McKay paid tribute to Gorman, who leaves behind a legacy almost unprecedented in the Australian sporting landscape, after developing the Mariners from an idea to one of the Hyundai A-League’s flagship clubs.

“What Lyall has done for football in this region can never be underestimated,” McKay explained, adding “Lyall has been the driving force since the club’s creation and has been an integral part of its operation and success, both on and off the field since day one.

 “In just over five years Lyall has developed the Mariners from a blank sheet of paper to a brand recognisable both nationally and internationally, and that has had revenues in excess of $28 million, employs 40 fulltime staff and through match days also supports the part time employment of hundreds of Central Coast residents.

Gorman’s work in developing the Mariners into one of the Hyundai A-League’s most successful clubs was rewarded in 2009 when he was named a member of the Asian Football Confederation’s Ad Hoc Committee for Professional Clubs, set up at an AFC executive committee meeting, alongside similar groups for Member Associations and Professional leagues.

It is this expertise Gorman will take with him to his new role.

McKay added “Lyall’s appointment to the role of Head of A-League is testament to his outstanding efforts at the Mariners and very exciting news for the Club. His understanding of all things to do with operating and growing a competitive and stable sporting franchise will no doubt add tremendous value to his ability to grow the A-League through this new role with FFA.

“It’s also a great testament to the growing strength of the Hyundai A-League, that FFA has been able to make this appointment from within the ranks of one of its own clubs, and without having to look externally."

Gorman will complete an extended period of transition as he moves into his role with FFA and will spearhead a search for a replacement within the Mariners, as the Coast based club continues to move into the next phase of its existence, punctuated by the presence of a new Head Coach and a new look squad.

McKay concluded “it will very much be business as usual as far as the Mariners are concerned.

“The Mariners at Tuggerah Centre of Excellence will continue as scheduled and we are privileged to have a strong network of partners to assist us in our continued development both on and off the field.

“The club wishes Lyall all the best in his new endeavour, and will leave the Mariners in the knowledge he has been an integral part of this club’s success.

“Without Lyall’s presence and business acumen we wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful as we have been. At the same time, we’re excited about working closely with Lyall in his new role at FFA, and the next phase of our own development.”