Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Sign Up Now!

The Western United Thread

Beleaguered club Western United has staved off liquidation after successfully securing funds to pay more than $15m of tax debt.
The club was wound up and stripped of its 2025/26 A-Leagues license in August amid financial turmoil, owing the Australian Taxation Office $15.5m.
But an eleventh hour payment plan deal offered by major lender Johnsons Controls was accepted by the ATO to cover the debt, so long as the club secured the funds by January 7.
The Herald Sun understands the club landed the funds by the due date to avoid being wound up.
Western United was stripped of its A-Leagues license for the 2025/26 season.

An ATO spokeswoman said the agency was “unable to comment on the tax affairs of any individual or entity due to our obligations of confidentiality under the law.”
Under the deal, Johnson Controls, the club’s major lender, would pay $15.5 m to cover the ATO debt.
A second backer, a company believed to be linked to billionaire Paul Lederer, the former chairman of Western Sydney Wanderers, will inject another $5m.
It comes as Wyndham council is undergoing an independent review — led by Carlton AFL legend and ex-planning minister Justin Madden — on what it does with land promised for Western United’s stadium.

The 63ha of land slated for the club’s 15,000 capacity stadium in Tarneit is on council land.
A large part of the club’s successful bid to become the A-League men’s then-11th license in 2018 was around a promise to become the first club to build and privately own its stadium.
Construction of the stadium never commenced, with the club only getting as far as a 5,000 capacity training stadium that was used for home games last season.
By 2036 Wyndham is projected to be home to about 475,000 people.
The club’s men’s side won the 2021/22 Championship, defeating cross-town rivals Melbourne City 2-0 in the Grand Final.


 
I wonder if this is the green light to get to 14 teams for next season and add a boost to the TV deal currently being negotiated. I hope Canberra are ready.
 
HappyGuus said:
I wonder if this is the green light to get to 14 teams for next season and add a boost to the TV deal currently being negotiated. I hope Canberra are ready.
Click to expand...
I've given up on Canberra. There's been no indication they have the funds. No noise anywhere about any potential additions. Gold Coast is the option with the most potential in terms of population, stadium, and a ready made derby. No suggestion of any interest tho. We need another Bill Foley to magically appear.
 
Good news re Western United, but I think we all wanna see what the future looks like. If they are admitted back next year, will anyone wanna sign for them after their player payment issues? And what about the stadium? There needs to be a compromise there.

HappyGuus said:
I wonder if this is the green light to get to 14 teams for next season and add a boost to the TV deal currently being negotiated. I hope Canberra are ready.
Click to expand...

Yep, we really need to have 14 teams next season. Is there any news about Canberra?
 
FeedTheBrox said:
Yep, we really need to have 14 teams next season. Is there any news about Canberra?
Click to expand...
A deal with the preferred investor for the Canberra expansion team has already been finalised but talks have since stalled so there may end up not being a Canberra expansion team in A-League Men, which would also likely lead to the death of Canberra United as Capital Football are no longer going to be running the club past season's end.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
A deal with the preferred investor for the Canberra expansion team has already been finalised but talks have since stalled so there may end up not being a Canberra expansion team in A-League Men, which would also likely lead to the death of Canberra United as Capital Football are no longer going to be running the club past season's end.
Click to expand...

If this is true, then maybe it's time to admit that the unbundling has been a failure and we need to return to Football Australia
 
Frankly Speaking said:
I've given up on Canberra. There's been no indication they have the funds. No noise anywhere about any potential additions. Gold Coast is the option with the most potential in terms of population, stadium, and a ready made derby. No suggestion of any interest tho. We need another Bill Foley to magically appear.
Click to expand...
Yes, another Trump aligned bastard. What happens to Auckland when he is eventually put in jail
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
A deal with the preferred investor for the Canberra expansion team has already been finalised but talks have since stalled so there may end up not being a Canberra expansion team in A-League Men, which would also likely lead to the death of Canberra United as Capital Football are no longer going to be running the club past season's end.
Click to expand...
Next target ... Tasmania! Where that delusional idiot, Piñata, thinks they can plonk a team there!
 
patjennings said:
It has been a failure and I doubt FA will change their mind. Realistically though they could both work together better than they currently do. TBH it would be better for both.
Click to expand...
I am sure it has been written elsewhere many times - but having more levels of separation on top of the whole Australian State Federation quagmire is just not in the best interests of our football.

Sure it makes sense not to have a governing body 'oversee' a self-owned competition but it just adds barriers to any discussion.

Nothing can ever be considered in terms of just straight football.
 
RIMB said:
I am sure it has been written elsewhere many times - but having more levels of separation on top of the whole Australian State Federation quagmire is just not in the best interests of our football.

Sure it makes sense not to have a governing body 'oversee' a self-owned competition but it just adds barriers to any discussion.

Nothing can ever be considered in terms of just straight football.
Click to expand...

Federalism has its strengths but also its weaknessess, and nowhere are those more evident than in football. The waste in terms of duplication of administrative costs and the non monetary costs in lack of coordination between states is extraordinary.

Instead of a unified approach we have tinpot bureaucracies that act as national parks for megomaniacs.
 
Western United better off looking at season 2027-2028 for mine. Give them essentially 20 months to get up and going before playing pre season games for that season, if they are all cleared for a return to the league.

No way they will be back in for next season.
 
CentreHalf said:
Western United better off looking at season 2027-2028 for mine. Give them essentially 20 months to get up and going before playing pre season games for that season, if they are all cleared for a return to the league.

No way they will be back in for next season.
Click to expand...
I can only see them being brought back for next season if another expansion club joins too. In that case, there will be a strong push to add 2 teams, not one.
 
Frankly Speaking said:
I can only see them being brought back for next season if another expansion club joins too. In that case, there will be a strong push to add 2 teams, not one.
Click to expand...

Add 2 in for 2027-2028.

Theres no way a club can be set up for success with a 6 month runway in this league.
 
CentreHalf said:
Theres no way a club can be set up for success with a 6 month runway in this league.
Click to expand...

Western Sydney Wanderers:

FFA announced expansion in April 2012.
WSW formally announced June 2012.
WSW first A-League match October 2012.

Not six months from creation, but actually six months from the expansion announcement!

WSW finished top in their 1st season, and in their second season finished 2nd and won the Asian Champions League. Six months isn't even an excuse here.

Western United are already a club with things in place. Six months is plenty of time for them.
 
Sutherlandbear said:
No relegation, no problem, they will survive being shite for a season.
Click to expand...
That is something like what I was thinking.

They have Aloisi already and can pull together a squad to at least be competitive.

Who cares if you don't dominate your first season (back).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top