The amiable Chisholm hopes to lead a united effort by the Soccersouth administration to maximise the potential that exists in southern football.
"Football is a simple game when it is played well, and I like to think that we can apply the same rationale to administering the game," Chisholm said.
"The key factor will be to have a plan that people can agree with, and genuinely want to implement."
A keen fan of former All Whites coach Bobby Clarke, who started his career in New Zealand by travelling the length of the country, meeting people to find out what made the game tick in this country, Chisholm has similar plans.
"Clarke had the right idea in meeting up with the grassroots of football, and while I may not travel quite that far, I want to find out first-hand what is happening in our area, from Timaru to Southland and in the booming centres of Queenstown and Wanaka."
Chisholm (57), who was born in Scotland, has the credentials to make astute judgements.
As a central defender, he played national league football as well as representing both Otago and Canterbury at provincial level, and was voted Otago Player of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1982.
A qualified senior coach, Chisholm has been in charge of junior, school and senior clubs in Otago, and has served on senior club committees. He was also chairman of Team Otago, a consortium of teams, in 1998.
Chisholm has had a healthy mix of work experience, gaining a BSc and teaching diplomas which led to jobs in several schools, culminating in his present appointment at John McGlashan College.
But the mix also had him working as a youth leader in Edinburgh and pouring petrol in the highland village of Crianlarich near Loch Lomond, as well as running a successful health food business in Dunedin.
While Chisholm will have to spend time in the Soccersouth office, he is determined to get out and make contacts at all levels, and especially when he meets his counterparts at New Zealand Football meetings in Auckland.
"There is a certain mindset that says we are too small and too far away from larger population centres to compete well. I disagree with that. If we are well organised, and produce a united effort, we can compete at the highest level."
