As announced last week, the FFA has postponed the decision on the two successful bidders to join the expanded A-League, deferring the decision to a new FFA Board to be determined at the next AGM in November.

One of the outgoing FFA board directors is Victorian corporate lawyer Chris Nikou, whose service work on the board was praised last week by FFA Chairman Steven Lowy. Nikou’s four year term on the board began when he was appointed as an FFA Board director in October 2014, under previous chairman Frank Lowy. It expired on 16 October, 2018 alongside another appointed director Simon Hepworth. The two outgoing directors will be joined by a third director who announced his resignation, Joseph Healy.

“They have each dedicated enormous time and expertise to their roles as directors over the past eight years in Joseph’s case and four years for Simon and Chris,” said chairman Lowy of the three directors on the FFA website.

“This has included chairing and/or being a member of a range of Board committees too numerous to mention.”

Nikou’s portfolios included Refereeing and the Women’s Football Committee. He was also involved around the issues of the FFA Congress and A-League expansion. He was the sole FFA Board representative on the Congress Review Working Group, which made recommendations to FIFA regarding the expanded FFA Congress.

“Each of them has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to serving the game through objective, independent and considered decision-making,” Lowy continued.

“They have engaged in the deliberations of the Board with integrity, candour and courage and in doing so, have contributed to a Board that has, not without robust and challenging debate, always acted in what it considers to be the best interests of FFA.
“On a personal note, I would like to express my appreciation for the support they have provided me in my role as chairman, through their selflessness, enthusiasm, passion for the game and adherence to best practice governance principles.”

Prior to joining the FFA board, Nikou served on the board of Melbourne Victory for four years as club secretary. Before that he was a director on the FFV board for five years between 2003 and 2008. Nikou’s keen interest in sport isn’t restricted to football. He is also a current board director at Melbourne 20-20 Cricket Club, the Melbourne Renegades, having served on that board for seven years.