A former regional news and sports reporter has landed a new leadership role with an Australian professional netball club.
Jeremy Butler, who worked on the sports desks of the Hull Daily Mail and the short-lived UK News operation, has been appointed as executive general manager of the New South Wales Swifts.
Jeremy, who hails from Hampshire, had a stint as a news reporter with the Hull Daily Mail before joining the East Yorkshire title’s sports desk from 1994-1996.
He also spent just over a year as a member of the Leicester-based UK News which was set up to rival the Press Association.
After the Northcliffe-led UK News shut up shop, Jeremy, pictured, launched and ran his own regional sports journalism agency, Greater Manchester-based Press Pass, for 16 years.
The entrepreneur got his business up and running by covering lower-league side Crewe for the Press Association before Reuters hired him to report on Manchester United during the Old Trafford glory days.
He also the ghostwriter behind the autobiography of Manchester United star Jaap Stam, before he moved into sports administration.
After leaving behind the press box, Jeremy went on to spend eight months as chief executive of EFL side Tranmere Rovers and 18 months as executive general manager of the Sale Sharks rugby outfit before heading off for a series of roles Down Under.
“I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of executive general manager at the NSW Swifts, the seven-time Premiers of Australian netball,” Jeremy wrote as he shared his news on LinkedIn.
“It’s an exciting time for netball in Australia with over one million participants enjoying the game, whilst the Suncorp Super Netball competition has just set the record for the most attended season of any women’s sport in Australian history.
“I’m looking forward to building on the amazing work of our High Performance team and club staff that has cemented the NSW Swifts’ status as the leading club in the world’s premier netball competition.”
Jeremy joins the seven-time Australian netball just before pre-season training for the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball competition gets under way in early October.
Swifts chief executive Tracey Scott said: “Unsurprisingly, we had a lot of interest in this position and that is a testament to the high regard the Swifts are held in across the sporting landscape.
“Jeremy was a standout candidate with an impressive track record. The Swifts are leaders in what they do and Jeremy presented a compelling vision of where he feels the club can go next.”
