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Foster quits as Australian players' chief [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
A day after completing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Australian national team with Football Australia, players' association chief Craig Foster has quit to return to television commentary.
Australian Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) president Simon Colosimo said Foster had accepted the position as chief executive in February on a short-term basis.
Long-serving PFA lawyer John Didulica will replace Foster on a three-year deal, Colosimo said.
Foster has overseen the appointment of a new PFA executive including five A-League club captains and Liverpool's Harry Kewell.
"I feel the best contribution I can make to the game is with the media and SBS, and the PFA now has a deeply committed leader with outstanding football, sports law and business credentials in John Didulica," Foster said.
Didulica said of the new CBA negotiated by Foster: "The onus is now on the players and the FFA to create a career path that does justice to these efforts."
Unlike previous World Cup campaigns, when the CBA wasn't thrashed out until just before the final qualifying round, the new agreement was reached prior to the Oceania play-off against the Solomon Islands on September 3 and 6.
Under the agreement, the players will receive 30 per cent of Football Australia's commercial revenues from the national team including broadcast rights, stadium income, sponsorship and licensing, once the FFA has met the cost of mounting a World Cup qualifying campaign.
The players will also get 30 per cent of the prize money from qualifying for and participating in the Confederations Cup and World Cup.
AAP
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