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The Western United Thread

CentreHalf said:
If i was a prospective buyer, I'd be trying to distance myself from the property development arm of the agreement, and look to purchase the club as a football club, nothing more.
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Why? The club is beyond worthless, especially without a suitably sized venue. The A-League business model doesn't really work with small venues. Even if they were selling out Ironbark every week (which they are not), it's still not enough.
 
CentreHalf said:
If i was a prospective buyer, I'd be trying to distance myself from the property development arm of the agreement, and look to purchase the club as a football club, nothing more.
Click to expand...

This would be ideal. The more I think about this the more I wonder whether the debt is caused by the development arm of this circus rather than the football club. The football arm being financed by the development arm who are involved in their own financial shenanigans thus doing a Sampson act on the football club. Mmmmm.
 
someguyjc said:
Players now all free agents.
Interesting to see how many remain in the A-League.
Wouldn't be surprised if we see some of the young blokes picked up for the Championship.
  • Matt Sutton — Goalkeeper
  • Michael Vonja — Goalkeeper
  • Alex Nassiep — Goalkeeper
  • Dylan Leonard — Centre-Back — Likely headed to Schalke 04
  • Tomoki Imai — Centre-Back
  • Besian Kutleshi — Centre-Back
  • Luka Coveny — Centre-Back
  • Ben Garuccio — Left-Back
  • Tate Russell — Right-Back
  • Charbel Shamoon — Right-Back
  • Rhys Bozinovski — Defensive Midfield
  • Angus Thurgate — Central Midfield
  • Sebastian Pasquali — Central Midfield
  • Jordan Lauton — Central Midfield
  • James York — Central Midfield
  • Khoder Kaddour — Right Midfield
  • Matthew Grimaldi — Left Winger
  • Abel Walatee — Left Winger
  • Luke Vickery — Right Winger
  • Hiroshi Ibusuki — Centre-Forward
  • Oli Lavale — Centre-Forward
  • Jake Najdovski — Centre-Forward
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From memory Ibusuki ignored overtures from my club to go to Western.

Who would want a player with that level of flawed judgement I have to ask...
 
RIMB said:
From memory Ibusuki ignored overtures from my club to go to Western.

Who would want a player with that level of flawed judgement I have to ask...
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Flawed judgement? Roar were slightly less dire than Perth last season. Only slightly…….
 
someguyjc said:
Why? The club is beyond worthless, especially without a suitably sized venue. The A-League business model doesn't really work with small venues. Even if they were selling out Ironbark every week (which they are not), it's still not enough.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

I'd say it works better with smaller venues. They wont have the overheads that some clubs have just to open the doors at venues (Brisbane MVFC, MCI, Wellington)

Major priorities for any potential owners

1. Wipe Tax debt - Pretty obvious, as they need to stay alive
2. Remove themselves from the property development arm of the agreement. It was 20 years too early. If theres an appetite for a move in 2045 then look at options then.
3. Negotiate a favourable lease at ironbark Fields - If there's an agreement made to invest in the stadium from a private perspective that will go a long way to getting a favourable lease for an extended period of time

To be honest though, when i open the paper every day and see violence and significant crime in the west, it will be difficult to obtain serious investors.
 
CentreHalf said:
I disagree.

I'd say it works better with smaller venues. They wont have the overheads that some clubs have just to open the doors at venues (Brisbane MVFC, MCI, Wellington)
Click to expand...

Smaller venues within the 8-15k capacity range, absolutely I agree. Ironbark is just too small in it's current form. Maybe if they added bigger temp stands as well as stands behind each goal and push capacity to 7.5-8k, it would allow for more growth and more matchday revenue.
That being said, I don't think it matters anymore. I think too much damage has been done. It will be a big ask to get the already small number of fans they had to return. It was already a lets-wait-and-see attitude among WU fans, now the trust level is non existent. The only way I see fans returning is if actual progress is made on the proper stadium in some way or another.
 
someguyjc said:
Smaller venues within the 8-15k capacity range, absolutely I agree. Ironbark is just too small in it's current form. Maybe if they added bigger temp stands as well as stands behind each goal and push capacity to 7.5-8k, it would allow for more growth and more matchday revenue.
That being said, I don't think it matters anymore. I think too much damage has been done. It will be a big ask to get the already small number of fans they had to return. It was already a lets-wait-and-see attitude among WU fans, now the trust level is non existent. The only way I see fans returning is if actual progress is made on the proper stadium in some way or another.
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One big stand on the far side would be good.

I understand the narrative around too much damage being done, and you are probably right. I just think there needs to be at least 3 teams in Melbourne and Western had at least made "some" progress.
 
melbcityguy said:
wufc.com.au

Western United FC Club Statement

Wednesday 10 September 2025 Western United Football Club is pleased with the decision of the Football Australia Appeals and Entry Control Board to allow the Club’s appeal. This outcome means the withdrawal of our conditional licence has been set aside....
wufc.com.au wufc.com.au
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Putting aside the opaque corporate dribble I can interpret this although they recognise they're done for this season this is to possibly allow the license to still be available for the season after so that the group doesn't have to reapply for the license.
 
CentreHalf said:
I just think there needs to be at least 3 teams in Melbourne
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A Geelong team could’ve served that purpose instead of WU in the first place, honestly.

When all is said and done, the prudent and honourable thing re. a 3rd Melb side in the ALM is to promote an already-existing club. Enough of this created-from-scratch franchise crud.
 
CentreHalf said:
One big stand on the far side would be good.

I understand the narrative around too much damage being done, and you are probably right. I just think there needs to be at least 3 teams in Melbourne and Western had at least made "some" progress.
Click to expand...

Very much a missed opportunity on their part. If they had had ironbark fields in their first season they would be in a very different position today. 5 years floating around without a home and without a point of difference was always going to get to this point. The words shovel-ready was always going to be their undoing. An A-League side based in the west (or east) with a club-owned 15k stadium would absolutely have succeeded. Just a shame it all hinged on a dodgy land-grab deal. They will need to do an incredible amount of work to return in a positive light.
 
melbcityguy said:
www.canberratimes.com.au

Fresh twist gives new hope for crisis-hit A-League club

Western United's hopes of returning to the A-League in the future have received a major boost following a...
www.canberratimes.com.au www.canberratimes.com.au
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" The hopes of reviving the club received a boost on Wednesday when FA announced a new appeal process would take place to hear Western's plea to have its licence reinstated.

FA said the move came as a result of new documentation coming to light, crucially giving Western a lifeline to re-establish themselves as an A-League club. "

When a famous singer dies they always find the "unreleased" singles as well.
 
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