WAFC chief Sautner quits
Nick Sautner – the man who helped secured the three-year commercial television deal for the WAFL – has re-signed from the WA Football Commission.
The commission has confirmed the former Sandringham forward had given two months’ notice in tendering his resignation as chief operating officer.
Sautner has accepted a role as chief commercial officer with medical firm RediMed, which was announced as a naming right sponsor of the WAFL colts’ competition earlier this month.
Sautner was heavily involved in the $1-million-a-year agreement to have WAFL matches screened on Channel 7 from this season.
He also helped in securing Domain as the new naming rights partner for Subiaco Oval for the next three years in a deal believed to be worth about $500,000 a year.
Sautner, who will complete a two-month handover period at the commission, released a statement which read: “I am extremely proud of the operational and commercial outcomes achieved during my 15 months with the WAFC.
“I wish the staff and commissioners success for the future and thank them for the opportunity to positively contribute to the culture and community of WA football. I have very fond memories of my experiences with the WAFC.”
Sautner had been embroiled in a legal case linked to his former role at Eithad Stadium, with WAFL clubs having expressed a lack of confidence in the senior WAFC employee as early as late last year.
He was sacked by Melbourne Stadiums Limited in June 2013 over behaviour the Federal Court last month found involved elements of dishonesty and deliberate misconduct.
