Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) yesterday held the 2010 PFA Annual General Meeting (AGM) at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Sydney.
The AGM provided those in attendance with a report on the progress of the PFA over the last year, including its wide ranging player support, education, welfare and community programs. Additionally, PFA Chief Executive Brendan Schwab presented a comprehensive collective bargaining strategy report for the A-League and Socceroos.
“The AGM is of fundamental importance as it enables us to reflect on the progress the PFA has made in 2009/2010 and focus on the challenges that lie ahead in 2010/2011,” Schwab said.  The PFA is currently in crucial collective bargaining negotiations with Football Federation Australia for the A-League players and the Socceroos and the AGM provided us with an opportunity to report to the players on their status,” Schwab added.
The AGM also provided members with an important opportunity to raise issues of general interest. Most notably, but unsurprisingly, the major issue to surface was the security of player contracts and entitlements and concerns over a contraction in the A-League next season.
Gold Coast United Club Delegate Joel Porter commented on the importance of contract security for professional footballers.
“The number one factor in my decision to leave a European career and return to the A-League was a safe and secure lifestyle for me and my family,” Porter said. I think the standard of play in the A-League has continually developed since the inaugural season and if we want to continue this trend we need to retain our best and attract other top Australian and foreign players. We can only do this if we get the fundamentals right, and contract security is without doubt fundamental. It was evident that everyone at the AGM shared this same view,” Porter added.
An election was also conducted at the AGM which saw Adelaide United midfielder Travis Dodd and Brisbane Roar defender Shane Stefanutto elected to the PFA Executive. Dodd and Stefanutto become the 46th and 47th players to serve on the PFA Executive. Dodd also became the first indigenous player to serve on the PFA Executive.
The PFA also reported a healthy financial bottom line at the AGM recording a profit of $112,625.
Detailed materials of the meeting including the PFA’s financial report for the year ended 30 June 2010 are available atwww.pfa.net.au.