Auckland Football Federation Football Development Manager, Jason Batty, has departed the organisation to return to the United States. 

Batty arrived at the Auckland Football Federation after a seven-year stint working with American Major League Soccer franchise the San Jose Earthquakes in November 2015.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with a great team of people at AFF building a strong base for future success and growth. There have been a lot of changes in the two years I've been in the role but our own field delivery in coach education and within the community sphere has been solid and left in a stronger position than when I arrived," Batty said.

Batty was first-choice goalkeeper for the All Whites for nearly a decade from the mid-1990s and made over 50 appearances, captaining the side on six occasions.

He was a member of the All Whites squad for two FIFA Confederations Cup campaigns, in 1999 and 2003, and was named New Zealand Player of the Year in 1997.

His club career included time in the youth academy of Norwich City as a youngster before spells with North Shore United and overseas again at Bohemian FC (Ireland) and Geylang United (Singapore).

He returned to Auckland to star for the now-defunct Football Kingz in the old Australian national league and then had another crack on foreign shores, heading to the United Kingdom to join Grimsby Town and later moving on to Scunthorpe United and Stalybridge Celtic.

Upon his retirement as a player, he took up a role at Dartmouth College in the United States, where he had a wide range of responsibilities and cut his teeth in football development at the Ivy League university.

Batty is now on the search for his next challenge in a country where he built a distinguished coaching career.

"There are a lot of opportunities in Major League Soccer and the USL and Collegiate game.  I'm confident I will pick something up in the festive period and the main carrot for my return to the USA is the professional opportunities on offer," he added. 

Auckland Football Federation CEO, Bob Patterson, thanked Batty for his contribution to the rapid growth of Auckland Football during his tenure."

Jason did a fine job during his two years with Auckland Football and we wish him all the very best for his future," he said.

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