‘False promises’: players fume over Western United woes
Murray Wenzel |
The A-Leagues players’ union is fuming at how “governance failures and false promises” preceded an enforced step into the unknown for footballers at Western United.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) put United into hibernation on Saturday, when players in the men’s and women’s squads became free agents ahead of their season kick-off in October.
The one-year pause came after WMG Football Club Limited, the club’s owner and operator, was placed into liquidation last month.
The wind-up process has dragged out, with various reviews and appeals pushed back until next week at the earliest.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) boss Beau Busch described the pause as devastating, noting players “expect accountability to ensure they have confidence that this will never happen again”.
“For months, players have shown exceptional professionalism and leadership despite repeated late payments, instability, and constant doubt about their futures,” Busch said in a statement.
“These are people with families and bills to pay, who deserved far better, and they’ve been let down by governance failures and false promises.
“This matter should have been dealt with in May. However, despite being repeatedly urged to act, Football Australia refused to do so. APL and FA must ensure this never happens again.
“How we got here is well known and was avoidable.”
Western United goalkeeper Matt Sutton admitted in the statement it had been an “incredibly tough period,” adding the “disappointment is huge, but so is the pride in how the group has carried itself with professionalism”.
Fellow PFA delegate and United women’s player Grace Maher argued players deserved better after being “forced to live with constant doubt about our futures”.
The latest chapter in the Unites saga comes ahead of next week’s fixtures announcement.
Players, including star midfielders Angus Thurgate and Dylan Leonard, are now free agents available to rival clubs while the transfer window remains open.
And any club on the hunt for a new coach can add John Aloisi to their list.
“The club needs time to work through these legal and regulatory proceedings and re-establish their financial and operating position, but with the timing and outcome for both up in the air, we need to progress with our plans for season 25/26 without Western United,” APL executive chairman Stephen Conroy said.
“We see great value in the potential of Western United.
“The club has had great success on the pitch and their academies are an important pathway for emerging young talent in the Victorian football community – but we need to do what is best for the league, our partners and our other clubs at this time.
“This is the best path forward for the league, and gives Western United the best opportunity to rejoin the A-Leagues and continue their work in the community.”
The club’s academies will remain in operation as they attempt to return for 2026 and beyond, potentially with a drastically rebuilt squad.
“Let us be absolutely clear: this is not a farewell, nor is it a step back,” a Western United statement read.
“This is an investment in our future, a proactive move that will empower us to reset and come back revitalised.
“To our A-Leagues players, coaches and staff, we say simply and sincerely: we are sorry. The uncertainty you have faced is not what you deserved.”
Lawyers for the club had sought a four-week adjournment to proceedings, claiming they had found a fresh $15 million investment to pay off their debts, but it was dismissed.
United last Friday evening confirmed they had a stay placed on the winding-up while they prepare an application to have the court’s order reviewed.
Facing a tax bill amid concerns over unpaid wages and superannuation – and while under a FIFA registration ban – Western were stripped of their A-League licence by Football Australia last month.
FA’s move followed continued delays to a takeover deal with American-based investors KAM, who ultimately withdrew their bid following the decision to revoke the Tarneit-based club’s licence.
AAP
