Perth Glory is delighted to confirm Pelligra Group as the club’s new owners.
A private, family-owned and operated property developer and construction business, Pelligra Group has expanded its breadth of developments with particular focus in the sports and entertainment sectors, acquiring interests in a number of sporting clubs around the world and enhancing that relationship through the development of sporting infrastructure.
In Europe, the Group holds a 100{e0eacfde3737b7a6d6d38e6c2fa2b27ad4b47af816b194a8894ca596baf1880e} interest in Italian Serie C football club, Catania FC, including ownership of Catania Rugby, Catania Women’s Football, Catania Junior Football and the Varese Basketball Team.
Their Australian sporting interests, meanwhile, include ownership of Adelaide Lightning Women’s basketball team, Adelaide Giants Baseball team and the Canberra Braves and Adelaide Adrenaline Ice Hockey teams.
Pelligra Group Chairman, Ross Pelligra, is relishing the prospect of re-establishing Glory as a benchmark club of Australian football.
“Sport is a great passion of mine and over the years I have invested in other sporting clubs in Australia and in Italy,” he said.
“I have seen how integral a sporting club can be to a community.
“It can have a powerful, unifying impact and that is what we are here to achieve in Perth.
“There are three key pillars we need to focus on in the first phase of our tenure; to reconnect; to drive success and to create long term sustainability.
“I remember watching Perth Glory when I was a child on TV back in Melbourne and thinking that football had arrived in this country when I saw a packed Perth Oval every home game and a team that played an exciting and attacking brand of football that had everyone in Perth captivated.
“That is the energy we know exists here and that is the energy we must rediscover.
“We have learned from our previous experiences with other sporting franchises, but every team is different, every city is different and it is important we listen and learn.
“I want to return the club back to the Glory days.
“We want it to be the envy of every other A-League club, just like it was when it was first founded.
“I know that we have a strong football community here in Perth and it’s time to reunite.”
Glory CEO Anthony Radich is similarly enthused by what the future holds for the club.
“Today’s announcement brings to an end what has been an extremely challenging period for Perth Glory and opens a new and exciting chapter in our history,” he said.
“The Pelligra Group brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and resources that we are confident will successfully rebuild the club’s reputation, image and credibility, revitalise its commercial relationships and most importantly, reconnect it with the WA community.
“With these key building blocks in place, Perth Glory’s enormous potential can be unlocked and the sustained success which our loyal Members and fans crave and deserve can be delivered.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our administration and coaching staff and players, along with our Members and fans, for their patience and understanding during this period of transition for the club.
“We look forward to working closely with our new owners to help drive Perth Glory into what will undoubtedly be a bright new era for the club.”
Those sentiments were echoed by A-Leagues Commissioner, Nick Garcia.
“Perth Glory is one of Australia’s oldest and most decorated professional football clubs and we are pleased to welcome Ross Pelligra to the A-Leagues as the club enters a new era,” he said.
“Ross is a successful business and football person, both locally and abroad and this experience and his passion for the world game is a great asset for Perth Glory and the A-Leagues.
“There is an incredible opportunity that exists for football in Western Australia.
“We believe that with this new ownership, the future of Perth Glory is in extremely safe hands and we look forward to seeing them deliver success both on and off the pitch.
“We are grateful to the Western Australian Government for its strong support during this transition period and into the future.
“I also want to acknowledge and thank the fans for their passion for the Glory and club management, staff, players and coaches for their dedication and commitment to the club during this time.”
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