Local Victorian football clubs can expect to see a familiar former A-League CEO, attending their games on behalf of the FFV in the coming weeks, speaking and consulting with clubs big and small.

Experienced Sports Administrator Peter Filopoulos is returning to his home state of Victoria after three years out west, to take up the position of FFV CEO, after resigning unexpectedly as CEO of A-League club Perth Glory.

The Glory’s season ended after the final round of the A-League season with the team falling short of making finals football. In the aftermath of that disappointment, one of Filopoulos’s tasks as club CEO was to instruct Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe that his services as senior coach were ended despite Lowe having another year to run on his contract. Just days later, Filopoulos announced his impending departure.

Perth Glory recruited Filopoulos as CEO in 2015 in the wake of the club’s salary cap breach scandal which resulted in the club being kicked out of that season’s finals series and fined $ 270,000.

He said of his resignation from his position as Glory CEO,

“It is with heavy heart that I tendered my resignation Sunday when I met with (Glory owner )Tony Sage,” he said.

“This decision was not an easy one for my family, however, we have decided that after three wonderful seasons, it’s time to return home to Melbourne.

“When I arrived in the wake of the salary cap issue in 2015 I found a club that was disillusioned and at a crossroads.

“After three seasons at the helm, I am proud to have provided stable leadership and helped develop stronger foundations and administrative structures.

“Overall, I believe that I am leaving the club today in a much stronger position than I found it three seasons ago.”

Sage thanked Filopoulos and described his impact at the club during his three year tenure, as significant.

“Peter has been a significant figure in the off-field progress made by the club,” Sage said.

“His hard work and dedication have been much appreciated by everyone associated with Glory.

“I am very happy he can now re-join his family who moved back to Melbourne several months ago.

“That sacrifice showed his dedication to the club.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank Peter for his endeavours and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”

In taking up the appointment of FFV CEO, Filopoulos makes his return to Victorian football for the first time since 1999 when he finished a seven year spell as South Melbourne CEO during which time South relocated from Middle Park to its current site at Lakeside, due to Victoria acquiring the Grand Prix.

At the FFV, he will join forces with another former South Melbourne associate, former player and current FFV President Kimon Taliadoros who said that, “We’re delighted to announce that Peter Filopoulos will be joining us CEO of FFV in May.”

Filopoulos said of his new appointment, “As a Victorian I’ve kept a close eye on the development of football in Victoria. My observations are that grassroots participation rates are growing steadily, girls and women are playing the sport in record numbers and our Victorian NPL and A-League clubs are some of the strongest in the country. However despite all those strengths, we face a lot of challenges in the sport, and some of those challenges are around truly realizing the growth potential around the sport and helping the clubs and players to benefit from that growth potential. I’m very keen to help Kimon and the FFV board deliver on their very clear strategic priorities. Fundamentally I want to hit the ground running and meet as many of the clubs as possible and key stakeholders of the sport, including government and government agencies, to understand some of the challenges and opportunities we can capitalize on.”