The Gold Coast United stalwart will now take up a role as a Player Relations Officer with the rebel organisation, which was launched last Thursday by Palmer.

The veteran centre-half did not play in Sunday's 2-0 loss to Wellington and concedes his playing career may well be over, but says he is excited about his new position.

Rees joins CEO Archie Fraser and directors Clive Mensink and Blair Brewster on the staff of Football Australia, but the 32-year-old suggested there are more appointments to come.

"The most important thing is that it's going to help football in Australia, otherwise I wouldn't be doing this," he told Sportal. "If I can understand where the players are coming from I can play my part.

"Without saying too much, there's going to be more announcements in the near future and I'm going to be a little bit more involved with those.

"There'll be more of an understanding of my role when those are made."

Palmer tried to distance himself from the organisation last week, denying Football Australia was part of his powerplay to assume control of the FFA.

However, Rees said Palmer is not yet done with football, despite having his licence to own a club stolen from his grasp.

"Some opinions of him aren't that high but I've spoken to him first-hand about a lot of football matters and I really believe he does care about the game," he said.

"He's a very smart man and on the business side of things, he's obviously proven that.

"In general, his knowledge is excellent and he thinks outside the square. That's why he's been so successful and that's why it's exciting to be involved in something like this, with a man like that."

Rees said Football Australia should not be treated as a joke.

"It's a good thing for football in Australia. It's an exciting opportunity," he said. "There were things about a rebel league being thrown around but it's definitely not that.

"It's an organisation that can help the way things are run and there's going to be more people coming on board.

"From the information I'm getting this is very serious."

When it comes to his playing future however, Rees admits the situation is unclear.

Palmer lost a Supreme Court injunction to keep control of the club last week, and the United stalwart said the playing group was hopeful - and expectant - that he would have won it.

It would have been business as usual until the end of the season had the court ruled in his favour, but instead Gold Coast is in FFA's hands - and that meant players were forced to sign new contracts to complete the season.

"I'm annoyed that it had to come to this. As much as I'd like to play the rest of the games with the team, I've got to think about my family," he said.

"There were a few boys that weren't too sure and I was very unsure. In the end, the more I looked at it, I wasn't able to do it.

"With what's happened in the last few days with Gold Coast and the license being taken away, I was prepared to stay and keep playing.

"I've still got a few good years in me but at this stage there's no offers on the table, so it could be the end of my playing days. Unless some come in, it will be."