Paul Afkos
{{short description|Australian businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
Paul Afkos is an Australian businessman of Greek background, former football (soccer) administrator and political aspirant. He is father of former footballer James Afkos. He was born in Nestorio, Greece before migrating to Perth, Western Australia.
Football (soccer)
= Perth Glory =
Afkos is most famous in Perth for being a co-owner of football (soccer) team Perth Glory until 2002.{{cite news
|title=Afkos leads $1m bid to recapture Glory days.
|date=2 January 2006
|publisher=The West Australian}}
In 2006 a bid was made by Afkos and a number of associates to buy out the 75% share of Perth Glory owned by Nick Tana. It was reported that the amount offered was A$1m.
{{cite news
|title=New group has eye on embattled Glory.
|date=9 January 2006
|publisher=The West Australian}}
= NSL bid =
In 2000 Afkos (while still a shareholder in Perth Glory) as president of the Soccer Administration of Western Australia was a backer of an unsuccessful Soccer West Coast bid for a second Perth team in the National Soccer League. Other backers included prominent Perth businessmen David Schrandt – then-president of Soccer West Coast – and Len Buckeridge.{{cite news|url=http://www.arach.net.au/~jacoba/wasoccer/NewsNovDec00.htm/ |title=NSL LICENCE EXPOSÉ |accessdate=17 October 2008 |publisher=footballwa.net |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121224421/http://www.arach.net.au/~jacoba/wasoccer/NewsNovDec00.htm |archivedate=21 November 2008 }}
=Soccer Australia=
He later became a board member of Soccer Australia. He was part of what became known as the rump board, members who refused to be replaced prior to the takeover of Frank Lowy in 2003.
{{cite news
|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2003/June/05/actions-of-australias-defiant-soccer-trio-criminal-fed-chief-crawford
|publisher=Soccerway
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=5 June 2003
|title=Actions of Australia's defiant soccer trio criminal: fed chief Crawford}}
{{cite news
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2002/10/22/1034561498229.html
|work=The Sydney Morning Herald
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=23 October 2002
|title=SBS waiting on sideline to substitute Seven
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040222052518/http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=%2Farticles%2F2002%2F10%2F22%2F1034561498229.html
|archive-date=22 February 2004
|url-status=dead
}}
{{cite news
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s740781.htm
|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=27 November 2002
|title=Four Corners transcript}}
{{cite news
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/02/1054406137150.html
|work=The Sydney Morning Herald
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=3 June 2003
|title=Glory boss begs 'troglodytes' to cave in}}
Politics
Afkos in 2003 was endorsed as Liberal Party candidate for the electorate of Stirling. He was praised by then-Prime Minister John Howard as he launched his campaign: "He has been in every sense a wonderful citizen of this country and I'm proud to have him as the Liberal Party candidate."
In early 2004 allegations involving Afkos' connections with a convicted drug dealer emerged leading to his resigning of his candidacy in early 2004. The drug dealer, Constantinos Papakostas, was caught by police selling speed in a car owned by Afkos. It was also alleged that Afkos had lent him money. Papacostas was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison.
{{cite news
|url=http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2004/02/14/1076548275777.html
|work=The Age
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=2 February 2004
|title=Candidate quits over alleged drug dealer links
|location=Melbourne
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040511063635/http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=%2Farticles%2F2004%2F02%2F14%2F1076548275777.html
|archive-date=11 May 2004
|url-status=dead
}}
{{cite news
|url=http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2004/02/14/1076548275777.html
|publisher=ABC Online
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=15 February 2004
|title=Disendorsed Liberal candidate denies drug links
|location=Melbourne
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040511063635/http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=%2Farticles%2F2004%2F02%2F14%2F1076548275777.html
|archive-date=11 May 2004
|url-status=dead
}}
{{cite news
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/15/1076779830071.html
|work=The Sydney Morning Herald
|accessdate=17 October 2008
|date=15 February 2004
|title=MPs hoping to regain momentum
}}
{{cite news
|title=Eight years for drug dealer with Afkos link.
|date=8 August 2005
|publisher=The West Australian}}
Civic activities
Afkos as of 2008 is chair of business group Business Improvement Group of Northbridge (BIG-N). Afkos has been actively involved with making the Northbridge area safer including support for a plan to introduce metal detectors in licensed venues. Afkos is a former president of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia.
{{cite news
|url = http://guardian.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Support-for-nightclub-metal-detectors/7510448/
|publisher = Guardian Express
|accessdate = 17 October 2008
|date = 7 October 2008
|title = Support for nightclub metal detectors
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090108095505/http://guardian.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Support-for-nightclub-metal-detectors/7510448/
|archivedate = 8 January 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/story.php?/13/61719/Northbridge-develops-a-new-vibe |publisher=WA Business News |accessdate=17 October 2008 |date=27 March 2008 |title=Northbridge develops a new vibe |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725035000/http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/story.php?%2F13%2F61719%2FNorthbridge-develops-a-new-vibe |archivedate=25 July 2008 }}
{{cite web|url=http://www.northbridgealive.com.au/about-us.asp|title=Northbridge Alive website|accessdate=17 October 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927082224/http://www.northbridgealive.com.au/about-us.asp|archivedate=27 September 2008}}
Afkos Industries
Afkos is managing director of design and engineering company Afkos Industries who specialise in working in the resources sector.{{cite web |url=http://www.afkos.com.au/ |title=Afkos Industries website |accessdate=17 October 2008 }}