Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief David Gallop said Thursday he will step down from the role on December 31 as the country ­prepares to implement far-reaching changes to the professional game.

Gallop, who joined the FFA in 2012, said the recent decision to separate the professional leagues from the national body meant there had to be a reassessment of the organization's leadership.

"With the New League Working Group recommendations to bring about fundamental changes to Australia's professional competitions ... the chief executive's role as it currently exists will be a very different, narrower role," Gallop said. 

The 53-year-old, a former chief executive of Australia's National Rugby League, had been contracted with the FFA until late 2020.

Gallop's tenure at FFA saw Australia win their first men's Asian Cup title in 2015, the introduction of new competitions and a strengthening of women's soccer at all levels. He also secured a six-year broadcasting agreement worth A$346 million ($241.27 million), the largest in the organization's history.

FFA and the professional clubs were locked in a two-year struggle that saw world governing body FIFA threaten Australia's membership if they did not accept governance changes.

FFA's Congress voted in favor of changes to the body's constitution in October, which paved the way for the separation of the professional leagues from the FFA.