By Jonty Mark
Robin Petersen ended months of speculation on Thursday when he announced he was to leave his post as Premier Soccer League CEO.
Petersen's contract will officially end at the end of December, but with the pastor due to take leave, and the PSL offices closing for Christmas, Friday is basically his last in the job.
While many will say that he did not actually want to go, but was forced out by the PSL Board of Governors, Petersen insisted that the decision was "by mutual agreement".
"It was not an easy decision to make," he added.
"I have grown in the last two and a half years to be very passionate about football. I believe this sport is sitting on a gold mine, and have contributed as best I can."
He added that his decision to quit was motivated by a desire to move further into the commercial side of football. Until a new CEO is announced, PSL chairman Mandla Mchunu will take over the day-to-day running of the league.
Petersen joined the PSL in October 2000, following Joe
Ndhela's sacking, having already been involved in football as general manager of the 2006 World Cup bid.
And his tenure has always been rife with difficulties, from scathing attacks in the media, to the Ellis Park tragedy, to handling an almost impossible fixture list ahead of next year's African Nations Cup and World Cup.
"The events of Ellis Park will remain with me for the rest of my life," he said.
Petersen also pronounced himself happy he had succeeded with his three main objectives since becoming CEO: "Putting in place a new IT data system that would provide the basis for future revenue streams for the league; a new staffing structure that will enable the league to meet its administrative, financial and commercial objectives; and implementing a new marketing strategy to drive a focused programme to increase crowd attendances and viewing audiences.
"The first of these is currently being implemented, and the second and third will be finalised shortly," he added.
What Petersen has actually achieved, beyond this baffling jargon, is difficult to assess. What is certain is that he has been made the scapegoat for a lot of incidents, when collective responsibility should be taken.
As the man in the limelight, Petersen confessed yesterday that his job was "one of the most pressurised in South Africa."
However, he added, a little strangely, that it had been a "wonderful experience".
Meanwhile, Petersen had a couple of final announcements to make on Friday.
First, the PSL have decided to sign an Organisational Rights agreement with the South African Football Players Union (Safpu).
"Although the league as such is not an employer," said Petersen, "the members of the Board of Governors have decided that it is critical for the stability of the industry that the relationship with the union be handled industry wide and not at club level."
Second, Petersen said the Board of Governors had also decided to amend its regulations concerning compensation of players out of contract, to bring them into line with provisions passed at the Fifa congress in July this year.
As such, no compensation is to be paid to players out of contract who are over 23 years of age. For players under 23, compensation will be paid to clubs that have contributed to the training and development of the player.
Petersen is most certainly over 23, but one wonders whether he was compensated by the Board of Governors after yesterday's meeting. For behind his peace-keeping exterior, the feeling is there is another, very different, story to be told.