Mr Llamas added: "It goes without saying that membership of UEFA and FIFA brought about seismic changes to the organisation of football in our country, which required the GFA (and, indeed, the entire football community in Gibraltar) to move quite rapidly from a totally amateur set up to a more professional outfit to meet the enormous challenges that such memberships presented."

It was initially thought that they should recruit a person for a maximum term of one year to conduct that audit, but subsequently the view was reached that engaging someone like Mr Marshall to conduct an exercise such as the one he has done was a better and more cost effective way of attaining the same result. He is not a UEFA official, but he was strongly recommended by contacts at UEFA as a person with experience in carrying out such audits of FAs around Europe.

Mr Llamas says he draws considerable satisfaction from the fact that the audit confirms that the GFA is held in high regard by UEFA.

SHORTCOMINGS

The audit, however, highlights shortcomings with the day to day running of the GFA. Much of what the audit states in this regard are issues "which have not come as a surprise to us, but the audit has the immense value of both synthesising those issues and providing the views of an expert, independent observer. I am very grateful to Mr Marshall for the work he has done. It is important to note that many of the conclusions he draws are based on fairly unanimous views that have been expressed to him by the numerous people he has interviewed. So it is not just his views," said Mr Llamas.

He adds: "My analysis of the audit is that two broad categories of issues need to be addressed if we are to take the GFA forward to its next stage: high level issues and subsidiary issues. The purpose of this letter is to address the high level issues. I am confident that if we address them properly and effectively, that will take care of many of the subsidiary issues as well.

"In my opinion, the key to addressing the high level issues requires a restructure at the head of the administration of the GFA.

"I am proposing that Ivan takes over the role of General Secretary whilst keeping his post as Legal Director, that Dennis assumes a new role as Director of Strategy and International & Public Relations and that we recruit a new Director of Operations responsible, in particular, for managing the day-to-day operational affairs of the GFA.

"I would like Ian Torrilla, our current Vice President, to assume this role. I have been able to persuade Ian to do so... I am delighted with this decision since I consider that Ian will play an important role in the restructure."

The portfolios for each of those three offices should not be seen as a strict compartmentalisation of roles since this is likely to be impossible(for example, with contacts with the clubs) and overlaps will exist, particularly since the General Secretary will remain ultimately responsible for the delivery of outcomes.

Said the GFA President: "I would like this restructure to be implemented initially for a trial period, from 1 February to mid-June 2020. During this period, any changes to the restructure or personnel can only occur with my agreement. An assessment will be made around mid-June 2020 at which point the restructure will be formally confirmed, amended or adjusted as necessary. That assessment will be made on the basis of a further audit to be conducted by Mr Marshall. That audit will not be as extensive as the one he carried out this year but I would expect it to include interviewing members of staff, the GFLA and a limited number of other stakeholders. Once the restructure is confirmed, in whatever form is finally agreed, we will need to make corresponding amendments to our Statutes.

12-12-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR