Western United fans are coming to terms with the prospect they may lose their team after the club was stripped of its A-Leagues licence last week.
Football Australia on Friday confirmed United would have their licence withdrawn as the current ownership was unable to satisfy the financial criteria required to maintain it.
The news, which leaves players and staff in limbo, comes just three years after United’s first A-League Men championship.
United have been in financial turmoil for months, with players and staff paid late in April, May and June while superannuation payments were also delayed.
United, based in Tarneit, have also been unable to register players due to a FIFA ban related to an ongoing dispute with former striker Aleksandar Prijovic.
The club, led by chairman Jason Sourasis, had hoped their issues would be solved by a planned takeover by American group KAM Sports, which was announced in May – but that is yet to be completed.
United has launched an appeal.
Fan representative group chair Daniel Hoogstra said much of the faithful has been left ‘devastated”.
“It’s absolutely devastating, there’s a lot of heartbroken fans who have been going to games every week and have created this tight-knit community,” he said.
“For the club to go like this, it just kind of tears apart this little community that we have been building over the last six years.”
Originally from Geelong but now living in Point Cook, Mr Hoogstra said the team had become a big part of his life.
“I have really enjoyed bringing along friends and introducing people to the game,” he said.
“The west is a region that is just growing so quickly, so for us to have our own team it has just been such a good feeling.
“To see it go like this is obviously heart-breaking for a lot of those fans.
Mr Hoogstra said losing the club would particularly hurt young fans with aspirations of playing professionally.
“For kids out here as well, it has given them more pathways for getting into the game and progressing professionally and maybe becoming Socceroos or Matildas,” Mr Hoogstra said.
“You’ve got kids who want that opportunity to play in an A-League academy, but without Western United, they might to have to go out to the [Melbourne] Victory or City academies in Bundoora or Casey.
“It’s so far away for kids and their families out here.
“It’s really going to reduce the opportunities a lot of people get where you’ve got professional football on your doorstep and fantastic opportunities for player development out here.”
Mr Hoogstra said if the club were to perish, it may take many newer followers of the code with it.
“If the appeal were to fail and the club were to fold– I don’t know, I think a lot of these fans would be lost to football.”
“I don’t think I could pick another team in the A-League, I think I would just go back to being a neutral fan.”
Mr Hoogstra urged fans to keep the faith.
“It’s tough times right now, but all we can do now is keep the faith, hope for the best and keep on fighting for the west.”
For more on this story, turn to page 5.
– with AAP
