The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) will kick on with preparations for the upcoming A-Leagues seasons with or without Western United, as the embattled club attempts to fight a wind-up order.
United’s hierarchy were working towards an appeal of the Federal Court’s decision to wind up the club’s ownership group in insolvency, after successfully applying to stay the order.
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 on Friday afternoon
United on Friday evening confirmed they had been able to have a stay placed on the winding up while they prepare an application to have the court’s order reviewed.
“Western United Football Club is pleased to advise that an application made this afternoon to stay the court’s orders was successful,” United said in a statement.
“The winding up has been stayed pending an application to review the court’s decision substantively and once that application is made next week, the stay will operate until the appeal is heard.
“Western United is doing everything we can to continue our dream. We will continue to engage with the ATO (Australian Tax Office) and our sports and community stakeholders to have our licence renewed or reinstated.”
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 (FA) earlier this month.
FA’s move followed continued delays to a takeover deal with American-based investors KAM, who ultimately withdrew their bid on Wednesday following the decision to revoke the Tarneit-based club’s licence.
The APL, which runs the A-Leagues, confirmed it will address immediate implications for the upcoming seasons, while concurrently commencing a broader process to review the best options for the league structure moving forward.
Without United, who were stripped of their A-Leagues licence earlier this month, the A-League Men (ALM) would drop back to 12 teams while the A-League Women (ALW) would reduce to 11.
“We are extremely disappointed to learn that WMG Football Club Limited, the company which owns and operates Western United Football Club, has been placed into liquidation,” APL executive chairman Stephen Conroy said in a statement.
“This is a difficult time for all of the fans, staff, players and coaches of Western United, and we acknowledge their hard work and commitment to the club through challenging circumstances over the last six years.
“We will now work with the Liquidator, PFA and Wyndham City Council, to ensure the impacted staff, players and coaches at the club have access to the support they need at this difficult time.”
The United saga has left players and staff, who were together when Friday’s decision was handed down, in limbo and other clubs unable to plan for the season or launch membership drives, given the lack of fixtures.
It is understood the league has draft fixtures, both with and without United, prepared, and Conroy said both would be announced within the next two weeks.
The A-League Men (ALM) kicks off on October 17 and the A-League Women two weeks later.
“While this is tough news, we remain steadfast in our commitment to continue the sustained growth across our leagues, and our planning is ongoing to ensure another strong and successful A-Leagues season,” Conroy said.
Elsewhere, Football Victoria confirmed Western United is no longer eligible to participate in the state’s leagues after being placed into liquidation.
The club’s Victorian Premier League 1 team was kicked out of finals, along with its under-17s, which play in the junior boys’ NPL 1 competition.
North Sunshine is one of the sides affected in the VPL1 competition. The Eagles will now face Brunswick City in a knockout final next weekend.
FV continues to review the implications on promotion and relegation in senior men’s leagues and the advanced junior boys structure.
In a statement, Wyndham council corporate services director Mark Rossiter said the council was deeply disappointed by this outcome, particularly for the staff and supporters of Western United.
“We want to assure the community that council and ratepayers are completely protected by the robust commercial and financial contracts that were in place for our partnership with the Western Melbourne Group,” he said.
“To be clear – land earmarked for the Wyndham Stadium Precinct, including Ironbark Fields, is owned by Wyndham City Council. No land has been gifted to Western Melbourne Group as part of this partnership.”
“Under the Victorian Government’s precinct planning controls, this site has been earmarked for a stadium, and Wyndham City will now regroup to work out a viable alternate solution for the community.”
“We continue to believe this is a unique initiative that has the potential to unlock an extraordinary level of public value, and we remain committed to realising this vision.”
