Capital Football is confident it will deliver its $33.5 million Home of Football in Throsby by 2023 despite chief executive Phil Brown's departure next month.
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Brown announced on Friday he would be stepping down from his role come December 17, after more than five years in the job.
It will begin its search for a new boss soon, as the countdown continues to its June 2023 deadline for its $33.5m development. And board chairperson Fran Sankey said Brown's departure would not delay it as the ball was in the government's court, who were working through planning requirements.
Brown took on the role in April 2016 and expanded its inclusion programs to include powerchair soccer, a Pararoos development centre and the Koori Kangaroos Indigenous youth football program.
However, he left one thing on his list that he will not tick off before he leaves.
"The thing that I'm saddest I'm not going to be around for is Capital Football/Canberra United's first team into the powerchair nationals," he said.
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"That's literally five and a half years in the making.
"To be able to to establish a powerchair program from no players for the first 18 months to ... a point where we now have got two teams playing against each other regularly, but that next step is to have a representative team that plays at the nationals and I would have loved to have been around to see that come to fruition."
His decision to walk away from the role will act as a time for him to refresh, reset and prepare for the next chapter in his career, which is undecided.
"The last two years have been particularly demanding, adjusting to the ever-changing pressures that COVID-19 and the ensuing public health orders and lockdowns have had on football operations," he said.
"So what's next is a well earned break.
"It's been busy, then busier, then busier again. So I'm proud to have been with the organisation to help get us through COVID and come out the other end, still in a really strong position."
Brown has helped the federation grow its participation numbers to a peak of about 40,000 in 2019, secured funding for live streaming capabilities to result in 2.51 million minutes watched last year and moved forward with the Home of Football project.
The NPLW also formed under Brown's leadership in 2017, and expanded to include new teams from Wagga Wagga and Griffith.
Commercial revenue has also increased by 174 per cent and Canberra United's match attendance has risen by 38 per cent.
"The time is right now for new leadership to continue to take football forward," Brown said.
"I would like to extend my thanks to everyone that has provided support and friendship over the last five and half years."
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
