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- Oct 17, 2024
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- 12,153
Average Aussie can go and watch the Aleague that was designed for him/her.... Can't tell people outside the tent what they can and can't do after not giving a stuff about them for 20 years...
NPL 2025
- Thread starter Beretta
- Start date
BA81
Key Player
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2024
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- 826
Not quite.
What they do forget is that 'the average Aussie' doesn't care for
, full-stop
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- Oct 17, 2024
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- 3,099
So you make it all the way to the Grand Final only to forfeit due to "lack of players". Something smells very off here.
www.footballvictoria.com.au
Update: VPLW Grand Final Forfeit
Football Victoria (FV) has been informed by Bundoora United FC that they will be forfeiting the 2025 Victorian Premi
From the Bundoora United Facebook:So you make it all the way to the Grand Final only to forfeit due to "lack of players". Something smells very off here.
Update: VPLW Grand Final Forfeit
Football Victoria (FV) has been informed by Bundoora United FC that they will be forfeiting the 2025 Victorian Premi
...so Football Victoria was told by Bundoora United they were forfeitting, but Bundoora United had no involvement in the decision to forfeit? WHAT?
Spartan Warrior
Rotation Player
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2024
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- 353
Markovski gone from Avondale...
Hellenic_blue&white
Captain
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2024
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- 2,156
And his whole backroom staff.
Hellenic_blue&white
Captain
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2024
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- 2,156
Play for John Aloisi and co. for the chanpionship you think?
southmelb
Captain
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- Feb 2, 2025
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- 2,055
Says stepped down but no doubt pushed, Avondale not mucking around after another choke, shame our club didnt learn that lesson 2 yrs ago.
Kevin Keegan71
Impact Sub
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- Nov 1, 2024
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- 188
NicCarBel
Club Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
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- 3,311
I mentioned some grumblings in Canberra about this earlier in the year. Looks like it's all coming to a head:
By Melanie Dinjaski
Updated September 9 2025 - 9:46am, first published 5:30am
A National Premier League squad and senior staff at a major soccer club in Canberra have been working to remedy rising tensions after accusations of team members not being paid.
Over the last week, the situation reached boiling point among the men's NPL playing group at Gungahlin United as word circulated among the Canberra soccer community that allegedly one player, and the team's head coach, Javier Roca, had not been receiving payment as per their contracts.
Gungahlin United play in the NPL Men's competition. Picture by Karleen Minney
Gungahlin United president Neil Harlock said the club was in the process of addressing the payment complaints with those involved, but said there was an issue of contract requirements not being met.
Gungahlin United describes itself as "one of the largest community soccer clubs in the ACT", with over 2,000 registered players, and has teams in juniors all the way to the NPL level.
Last year the men's first grade team finished the season atop the ladder.
However, the senior program was rocked when a player boycott was threatened in the regular season finale a fortnight ago against Monaro Panthers.
One player known to be at the centre of a payment dispute was French import Loick Lespinasse, who lined up in three matches for Gungahlin in June, and scored four goals before returning to Europe.
The men's first grade head coach Roca - who, unlike players, is employed on a full-time contract - was understood to be awaiting payment of approximately $8000 as of last week.
Players that wish to remain anonymous also have concerns about alleged late payments.
"It's not about the money, it's about the principle," one player told The Canberra Times.
"The club aspires to go to the national second division. If you agree to a number, then that needs to be paid on the date it's supposed to to be paid.
"Gungahlin has great potential to do great things, but there's some things that have left a sour taste in my mouth about how the club is being run. The operation has to match the ambition."
In regards to Lespinasse, Gungahlin United's president confirmed the Frenchman had received partial payment because the club had raised concerns about "not a fulfilment of contract clauses".
The club and the player's agent had since been in communication in the last month and were negotiating an agreed final payment.
"We needed to make sure things were met," Harlock said.
The club considered Roca's situation to be similar, with Harlock pointing to "minimum requirements as part of that contract, not just to coach first-grade".
According to Harlock, Roca met with senior club staff late last week, and it was agreed that Gungahlin United would "proceed with payment" as long as the coach met the "minimum requirements as part of the performance contract".
"We're not just going to pay anybody any amount of money just to coach first-grade. We've got other commitments that are tied into that agreement," the club president said.
"For the players and the coaches in our programs, that will be met. They'll be met within fair and reasonable timing that we are contractually obliged to do, or, if not, that'll be communicated," he added.
Despite their success last year, Gungahlin United did not reach the NPL finals stages this season, finishing fifth on the ladder.
This Saturday, Canberra Croatia will play Monaro Panthers for a spot in the grand final on September 20 against Tigers FC at McKellar Park.
Canberra soccer giants rocked by allegations of missed player, coach payments
By Melanie Dinjaski
Updated September 9 2025 - 9:46am, first published 5:30am
A National Premier League squad and senior staff at a major soccer club in Canberra have been working to remedy rising tensions after accusations of team members not being paid.
Over the last week, the situation reached boiling point among the men's NPL playing group at Gungahlin United as word circulated among the Canberra soccer community that allegedly one player, and the team's head coach, Javier Roca, had not been receiving payment as per their contracts.
Gungahlin United play in the NPL Men's competition. Picture by Karleen Minney
Gungahlin United president Neil Harlock said the club was in the process of addressing the payment complaints with those involved, but said there was an issue of contract requirements not being met.
Gungahlin United describes itself as "one of the largest community soccer clubs in the ACT", with over 2,000 registered players, and has teams in juniors all the way to the NPL level.
Last year the men's first grade team finished the season atop the ladder.
However, the senior program was rocked when a player boycott was threatened in the regular season finale a fortnight ago against Monaro Panthers.
One player known to be at the centre of a payment dispute was French import Loick Lespinasse, who lined up in three matches for Gungahlin in June, and scored four goals before returning to Europe.
The men's first grade head coach Roca - who, unlike players, is employed on a full-time contract - was understood to be awaiting payment of approximately $8000 as of last week.
Players that wish to remain anonymous also have concerns about alleged late payments.
"It's not about the money, it's about the principle," one player told The Canberra Times.
"The club aspires to go to the national second division. If you agree to a number, then that needs to be paid on the date it's supposed to to be paid.
"Gungahlin has great potential to do great things, but there's some things that have left a sour taste in my mouth about how the club is being run. The operation has to match the ambition."
In regards to Lespinasse, Gungahlin United's president confirmed the Frenchman had received partial payment because the club had raised concerns about "not a fulfilment of contract clauses".
The club and the player's agent had since been in communication in the last month and were negotiating an agreed final payment.
"We needed to make sure things were met," Harlock said.
The club considered Roca's situation to be similar, with Harlock pointing to "minimum requirements as part of that contract, not just to coach first-grade".
According to Harlock, Roca met with senior club staff late last week, and it was agreed that Gungahlin United would "proceed with payment" as long as the coach met the "minimum requirements as part of the performance contract".
"We're not just going to pay anybody any amount of money just to coach first-grade. We've got other commitments that are tied into that agreement," the club president said.
"For the players and the coaches in our programs, that will be met. They'll be met within fair and reasonable timing that we are contractually obliged to do, or, if not, that'll be communicated," he added.
Despite their success last year, Gungahlin United did not reach the NPL finals stages this season, finishing fifth on the ladder.
This Saturday, Canberra Croatia will play Monaro Panthers for a spot in the grand final on September 20 against Tigers FC at McKellar Park.
Surprised Sydney United haven’t gone after him
NicCarBel
Club Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Replies
- 3,311
Have heard that rumour from within too..
theFOOTBALLlover
First Team Contender
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2024
- Replies
- 586
I've heard the same. Sutherland are doing good things. Club is on the up.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Replies
- 12,153
So you make it all the way to the Grand Final only to forfeit due to "lack of players". Something smells very off here.
Update: VPLW Grand Final Forfeit
Football Victoria (FV) has been informed by Bundoora United FC that they will be forfeiting the 2025 Victorian Premi
Calder to merge with Avondale
It’s the end of an era with Calder United announcing it was merging with Avondale from next season. Calder has been a standalone women’s club since forming in 2016 and based out of Keilor Park. There’s been plenty of success the past 10 years, with plenty of trophies along with several players...
brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au
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- Oct 17, 2024
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- 12,153
Was Zois still with him?
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Replies
- 12,153
Hope they dont go broke chasing the dream......
NicCarBel
Club Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
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- 3,311
Remind me when I do the 2026 Australian Club mapCalder to merge with Avondale
It’s the end of an era with Calder United announcing it was merging with Avondale from next season. Calder has been a standalone women’s club since forming in 2016 and based out of Keilor Park. There’s been plenty of success the past 10 years, with plenty of trophies along with several players...
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Replies
- 12,153
They may have folded by then
