Perth Glory has secured a brand new proprietor, 4 months after the A-League outfit was positioned into receivership following the departure of long-term chairman Tony Sage.
Key factors:
- Perth Gory was positioned into receivership in July
- Melbourne primarily based property developer Robert Brij has now purchased the membership
- The Glory males’s group begins its A-League season on October 22
The Australian Skilled Leagues (APL) confirmed on Tuesday that Melbourne-based property tycoon Robert Brij had bought the membership.
Whereas the specifics of the deal stay unclear, it’s understood all present Glory employees and gamers will likely be retained on their present offers.
Mr Brij is the chairman of the property group Primeland, which controls a lot of giant initiatives in Melbourne and Adelaide.
He’s additionally the chief government officer of a Singapore-based sports activities administration and personal fairness agency.
He stated he was honoured to grow to be simply the third proprietor of the Glory in its 27-year historical past.
“We consider within the potential of soccer, the potential of the A-League and significantly within the potential of Perth Glory,” Mr Brij stated.
“At its finest, Glory was a illustration of Perth and WA, and we’re wanting to reconnect, particularly with the followers, and convey everybody alongside for the journey in what we consider will likely be an thrilling future for the membership.”
Chairman goals to revive Glory as ‘powerhouse’
John Nekic will grow to be chairman of the Glory after coordinating the takeover bid together with Primeland Group.
Talking on ABC Perth Drive, he stated he would transfer to Perth from the east coast, promising Glory followers a hands-on and passionate method.
“If we thought that we would simply keep on the japanese facet and simply let this function, I am fairly assured it would not work,” he stated.
“I hope it comes via clearly that I am very, very keen about this and we’ll make it work.
“When the chance got here to fruition after our conversations, it was a no brainer.
“The chance was too nice to not be part of.”
Mr Nekic says his priorities will likely be bettering the services inside the membership, and re-engaging with the group.
“We’re additionally very, very nicely conscious that if we do not get the infrastructure proper, it may be like a sugar repair, we’d get it achieved for a 12 months after which we crumble once more.
“It is actually the buyback, to get the individuals again, we wish the group, we wish supporters to come back again and consider within the membership once more.
“Our expectation is for fulfillment. Easy as that. We need to convey Perth Glory again to these previous days the place they had been a powerhouse, and there isn’t any purpose they cannot be.”
Getting back from COVID
The Glory was positioned into receivership in July when Mr Sage ended his 15-year possession tenure.
He blamed the monetary influence of COVID-19 and a compelled relocation from the CBD to Macedonia Park in Perth’s northern suburbs for his determination to half with the membership.
The Glory had been compelled to maneuver from their normal dwelling venue, Perth Rectangular Stadium, for 10 video games final season whereas upgrades had been made forward of the FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
Advisory agency KordaMentha had been dealing with the daily operations of the membership whereas the APL carried out negotiations with a number of potential patrons.
Perth begins its A-League Males’s season this weekend at dwelling to Newcastle.
Its A-League Ladies’s outfit kicked off the brand new season final Saturday with a 2-0 win over Western United.
Sports activities content material to make you assume… or permit you to not. A e-newsletter delivered every Friday.
