Talking Footy

Western United cut from A-League Men's and Women's competitions

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/ ... /107021526


Western United's men's and women's teams have been removed from the A-Leagues. (Getty Images: Sarah Reed)

Western United's time in the A-Leagues is over, with the Australian Professional Leagues terminating the club's participation agreement.

The club was removed from the competition in 2025 as it fell into debt.

The club was placed into hibernation by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in September 2025, with A-League Men and Women players having to scramble to continue their careers elsewhere.

Ownership West Melbourne Group avoided a wind-up order from the Australian Tax Office in January by settling a $15.5 million tax debt.

Football Australia declined to reinstate the Tarneit-based club's licence in May and United again won't participate in either the ALM or ALW.

West Melbourne Group have another wind-up hearing in the Federal Court on Tuesday and on Monday the APL officially terminated their participation agreement in the A-League competitions.

AAP understands United still owes some of its former players and staff money.

United was granted a licence in 2018, off the back of grand promises to build its own stadium, entered the A-League Men ahead of the 2019-20 season and won the ALM championship in 2021-22.

Debts and wind-up

On 1 May 2025, it was reported that the club was subject to a player registration ban by FIFA, effective until the January 2027 transfer window.[22] Media reports indicated that this was due to a dispute with former player Aleksandar Prijovic.[23]

On 2 May, the club's owners announced that KAM Melbourne would acquire a majority stake in the club, subject to the approval of Australian Professional Leagues and Football Australia.[24][25] Later that month the club was served with breach notices by both their men's and women's teams over unpaid wages.[23] It was reported on 2 August that the club lost $11 million in the 2023/24 financial year,[26] with liabilities exceeding assets by more than $55 million, and a deficit of more than $12m for the preceding period. By this point the proposed KAM Melbourne takeover had not eventuated and then they formally pulled out on 27 August.[27]

On 29 August, the club's parent company WMG Football Club Limited was placed in liquidation, after a Federal Court order.[28] However, the club attempted to argue that it found "a fresh $15 million investment to pay off their debts" and simply needed an adjournment to resolve the situation.[28]

In April 2026, it was announced that a new wind-up action was served on Western Melbourne Group, with a hearing scheduled for June 2026.[29]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_United_FC

Cannot believe they even tried to get back into the League after all the false promises and debt