Outspoken Suns chairman Tony Cochrane is stepping down from the Gold Coast board after nine years.
Outgoing Suns chairman Tony Cochrane.Credit:AFL Media
Cochrane announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving after the Suns’ round one game against Sydney and that Bob East was chairman-elect. Cochrane became chairman after round one in 2016.
“I have been contemplating this long and hard now for the best part of the last six months and I believe the time is right,” Cochrane said, adding that Gold Coast have “great stability, a strong administration and an outstanding playing list and football department, whom I firmly believe are on the road to finals in 2023”.
Cochrane has been one of the most outspoken and provocative club presidents in recent years. But he also kept the struggling Suns relevant in the media space and fought hard for the Suns and the northern state teams.
Cochrane has been a vocal opponent of Tasmania being granted the 19th licence in the competition, questioning the viability of further expansion. His exit will please those pushing for a Tasmanian team.
He opposed the AFL leadership prospects of Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, who is a potential candidate to replace outgoing AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.
An entrepreneur who was involved in rock and roll and entertainment and the former V8 Supercars boss, Cochrane – who organised the 2020 grand final entertainment – brought the showman’s flair to the Suns and the club despite on-field failure, stabilised and became more competitive in the past two seasons.
“I have enjoyed communicating and bringing the Gold Coast Suns a voice; making a stand for our young club when many only had an agenda to see us off,” Cochrane said.
“Some, no doubt, would argue my voice was too strong, OK and your problem is!
“But now to a large degree we have those difficult times behind us and we need to focus on the growth and opportunities that we have all worked so hard to create over the past five-six years. The sense of stability and optimism around the club is immense. I like to think I played a small part in building that direction, stability and foundation.”
Cochrane said he was proud of how far the Suns had come.
“Our board and football department has worked tirelessly to reset our program and provide our club with a platform from which we can stamp ourselves firmly amongst the competition’s elite teams in the coming years.
“We’ve got a community that is now proud of our football club and a supporter base that will continue to grow from strength to strength, as we have done with record membership numbers in the last couple of years.
“Good people associated with clubs such as ours, understand the job is never done. You are merely a custodian, holding the job and trying to hand it on better than the good people that preceded you. It is how sporting (and other organisations) thrive and grow. I’ve singularly loved being that brief custodian – I look forward to Bob East, as chairman-elect, taking it to new heights and achievements. I have not a single doubt, our greatest times and achievements remain ahead, as they should.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
