AFTER a period of upheaval, the Frankston Football Club has confirmed the appointment of a new board.
After numerous resignations over the last year, the majority of the Frankston FC board consisted of casual appointments prior to last month’s AGM. The new board is president Pippa Hanson, vice-president Michelle Graham, treasurer Jason Cridland, secretary Tony Finocchiaro, Brad Sykes, Adrian Lloyd, Peter Hudd, and John Barry.
David Friend resigned from the Frankston FC board at the end of 2024, followed soon by the departure of Marc Ablett in February of 2025. Serving board member Donna Rooks died in August of that year.
Four board members resigned in January of 2026: secretary Jonathan Reichwald stepped down at the turn of the new year, and Joe Benson resigned on 6 January. Treasurer Stephen Batty resigned on 21 January, effective after the AGM, and finally president Steven Finocchiaro stepped away on 23 January. The Times is not alleging wrongdoing by any former board members.
The new board has a lot of work ahead of them, and will have to navigate a Victoria Police investigation into financial discrepancies in the club’s accounts and a Worksafe investigation into alleged culture issues. (“Upheaval at Frankston Football Club” The Times, 10/2/2026)
Former treasurer Stephen Batty said that he resigned after improving the club’s financial situation. He said “my resignation is unrelated to the alleged fraud, rather it is due to a number of recent board decisions and resolutions that I cannot commit to as they do not promote good governance and transparency and are not beneficial to the club’s future.”
Frankston FC has now published its 2025 annual report, revealing it posted a surplus of $33,351 for the last financial year. The year prior it posted a deficit of $168,458.
In the annual report, former president Steven Finocchiaro wrote “it has been an honour and a privilege to serve this organisation in a volunteer capacity for a number of years.”
“For the Frankston Football Club to be a successful organisation, habits which are antithetical to success must not rise to the surface. Clubs which are united, modern and process-driven win premierships. Clubs who trust the process and the people behind them win premierships. And clubs who appreciate the time and effort that people put into the organisation on a volunteer basis win premierships,” he said. “The board which served the Frankston Football Club – on a volunteer basis – in FY2025 saved the organisation from extinction and placed the club on extremely sure footing. It is now up to all of you to build success from this base and if you wish to see premierships in season 2026.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 10 March 2026
