Macarthur FC chairman Gino Marra wants fans to know that recent personnel changes on the board of directors have led to the club once again becoming focused on the region and its first A-League season.
While conceding that the departure of chairman Rabieh Krayem and director Ken Stead may look like instability from the outside, Marra says there’s been a positive outcome for the Bulls.
“The focus is now back where it should be, so fans should not be concerned that some people are no longer part of our setup,’’ he said.
“Those people who have been there at the start are still there and things are on track for our first season.
“We have so far signed 12 players, whose names will be revealed towards the end of the current A-League season,’’ Marra said.
“But as well as working hard to produce a great squad of players for our inaugural season, the changes at board level have meant we return to our original focus, which was on the local region, the local community, instead of a national approach.’’
Gino Marra, along with current fellow director Sam Krslovic, were part of the original South West Sydney FC licence bid.
They were encouraged by the FFA to join forces with Campbelltown Council to form the ultimately successful Macarthur United bid.
As part of the agreement the team will use Campbelltown Stadium as its home ground.
Since winning the licence, in December 2018, Macarthur FC have announced the signing of Matildas coach Ante Milicic as their inaugural manager.
Last year they announced they had secured the services of Tommy Oar, a former Socceroo, but there have not been any other player signing since then.
Four months into the job, inaugural Macarthur FC chief executive officer Archie Fraser departed in 2019 and was eventually replaced by Rabieh Krayem, who was also club board chairman, representing majority owner Lang Walker.
Within days of Walker selling his stake in the club a few weeks ago, Krayem was also gone, and so was director Ken Stead, who appointed last October.
Gino Marra, appointed board chairman in the wake of Krayem’s departure, says he can promise Macarthur FC fans “150 percent stability’’ between now and the start of the 2020-21 A-League season in October.
“These changes are a positive for us as a club because they mean we can return our focus on the football and our region,’’ Marra said.
