Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
An update to the Sydney Morning Herald article says that Western United plan to appeal the decision, so they may manage to survive yet (Although it kind of feels unlikely at the moment)
Honestly, for all the hate they've received I've actually genuinely enjoyed having them around the place.
That said, carrying $55 million dollars of debt as an A-League club is absolutely inexcusable.
And all the other stuff that has come out of the club of late, well I wouldn't call it a snowball, I'd say it's been more of an avalanche!
That said, carrying $55 million dollars of debt as an A-League club is absolutely inexcusable.
And all the other stuff that has come out of the club of late, well I wouldn't call it a snowball, I'd say it's been more of an avalanche!
I had a better time going there to watch football there then in Melbourne itself. Their fans are/were very friendly and accommodating.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
Just dont get how those guys were given their licence given whats been posted about their failed takeovers in Europe. Whoever made the decision they were okay needs to be shown the door as well.
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
The Kingz were part of the NSL.
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
The Kingz were part of the NSL.
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
quere th APL bail out of WU...
I hope so. I was hoping that one day we would see 16 teams with decent enough support, playing the A League. Not ready for it I guess. I hate seeing any team in any country go defunct. Well maybe make exception for the alleged "top 6" in the EPL.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
Just dont get how those guys were given their licence given whats been posted about their failed takeovers in Europe. Whoever made the decision they were okay needs to be shown the door as well.
Dodgy KAM Sports never held WU's licence. WU's licence is held by Western Melbourne Group, who bleeding cash tried to sell a majority shareholding to KAM. Desperate sales attract shady characters. Football Australia stopped the deal happening.
Seems a $55M hole on the balance sheet has just sunk the current owners. If they were some big assets they could hand over, maybe the VIC Govt could step in to help. But seems there isn't. State Govt and Council want that new Tarneit Stadium built, but it's unlikely to happen anytime soon now.
WU reported a $11M loss for FYE 2023/24, so bleeding cash at almost $1M/month. Worst FYE 22/23.
They are toast. You just can't see cash strapped APL, or any group of clubs (like with the Jets) coming in to cashflow the club short term. The financial red ink is just too big.
Wiki lists WU's owners as - Western Melbourne Group, Sayers Road Investment Co, Jaszac Investments - Jason Sourasis, Theodore Andriopoulos, Steve Horvat, Levent Shevki and John Tripodi.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/02/western-uniteds-multimillion-dollar-loss-highlights-a-leagues-ongoing-struggles
The Tarneit-based outfit reported a loss of almost $11m for the 2023/24 financial year in accounts lodged to Asic this week, following a deficit of more than $12m for the preceding period.
Liabilities exceeded assets by more than $55m, underscoring the urgent need to conclude the deal announced in May to sell the club to the US-based Kaminski group and its local affiliate, KAM Melbourne.
quere th APL bail out of WU...
I hope so. I was hoping that one day we would see 16 teams with decent enough support, playing the A League. Not ready for it I guess. I hate seeing any team in any country go defunct. Well maybe make exception for the alleged "top 6" in the EPL.
Yeah I like the thought of the ALM one day getting to 20 teams, with an A1/A2 split and pro rel. That's because I love the late season drama of promotion/relegation.
But really that's all pipe dream stuff for awhile yet. Be interesting to see how the inaugural Championship (NPL clubs) goes later this year. Size of the crowds, quality of the football etc etc.
The NPL clubs will expousing the 'we told you so' narrative to the APL, and pushing for any possible future expansion in the big Australian cities to be existing NPL clubs. That's outside possible new 'franchises' in areas like Tassie and Christchurch.
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
The Kingz were part of the NSL.
Paramount want 'product' of a 26-27 regular game season. They probably have a contract with the APL for that. 12 teams & 22 H&A games ain't enough. There will be 3 derbies this season & likely stay that way even if Canberra do finally manage to enter.
quere th APL bail out of WU...
I hope so. I was hoping that one day we would see 16 teams with decent enough support, playing the A League. Not ready for it I guess. I hate seeing any team in any country go defunct. Well maybe make exception for the alleged "top 6" in the EPL.
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
This is very grim news for the league. No wonder they haven't released the draw yet. 😔
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
Nah, not an A League side and they basically became the Knights.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
Honestly, for all the hate they've received I've actually genuinely enjoyed having them around the place.
That said, carrying $55 million dollars of debt as an A-League club is absolutely inexcusable.
And all the other stuff that has come out of the club of late, well I wouldn't call it a snowball, I'd say it's been more of an avalanche!
That said, carrying $55 million dollars of debt as an A-League club is absolutely inexcusable.
And all the other stuff that has come out of the club of late, well I wouldn't call it a snowball, I'd say it's been more of an avalanche!
I like Aloisi and the way they’ve played their football, but the business case stinks. Whoever signed them up and MacArthur has poison pilled the APL to a degree. There’s gotta be a way to merge old soccer and the A league without it being about countries and race.
Along with so many other reasons from purely a footballing view it is a crying shame, as that team play a really nice style of football, which is a pleasure to watch.
The A league is a real basket case at the moment.
The A league is a real basket case at the moment.
Part of that was living beyond their means though. Western and Gold Coast in similar baskets and you gotta wonder about MacArthur with some of their signings.
Foley’s been a football man first it seems. Or at least figured that’s the way to get ahead. You gotta get all the locals onside prior to bidding! Preferably have 18 years of a neighboring club taking games there as proof of concept too…
Just dont get how those guys were given their licence given whats been posted about their failed takeovers in Europe. Whoever made the decision they were okay needs to be shown the door as well.
Dodgy KAM Sports never held WU's licence. WU's licence is held by Western Melbourne Group, who bleeding cash tried to sell a majority shareholding to KAM. Desperate sales attract shady characters. Football Australia stopped the deal happening.
Seems a $55M hole on the balance sheet has just sunk the current owners. If they were some big assets they could hand over, maybe the VIC Govt could step in to help. But seems there isn't. State Govt and Council want that new Tarneit Stadium built, but it's unlikely to happen anytime soon now.
WU reported a $11M loss for FYE 2023/24, so bleeding cash at almost $1M/month. Worst FYE 22/23.
They are toast. You just can't see cash strapped APL, or any group of clubs (like with the Jets) coming in to cashflow the club short term. The financial red ink is just too big.
Wiki lists WU's owners as - Western Melbourne Group, Sayers Road Investment Co, Jaszac Investments - Jason Sourasis, Theodore Andriopoulos, Steve Horvat, Levent Shevki and John Tripodi.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/02/western-uniteds-multimillion-dollar-loss-highlights-a-leagues-ongoing-struggles
The Tarneit-based outfit reported a loss of almost $11m for the 2023/24 financial year in accounts lodged to Asic this week, following a deficit of more than $12m for the preceding period.
Liabilities exceeded assets by more than $55m, underscoring the urgent need to conclude the deal announced in May to sell the club to the US-based Kaminski group and its local affiliate, KAM Melbourne.
You can't play in front of 500 people and run a professional club.
I've wanted them to succeed, especially with their own stadium. Had an increasingly bad feeling though with the delay of that and so this isn't at all surprising sadly.
Give a 2 year licence to South Melbourne instead and see what they can deliver? Let them prove they've got the fans and what it takes to compete in the ALM. Set some metrics they need to hit and renew the license if they've met them. Nothing to lose
I've wanted them to succeed, especially with their own stadium. Had an increasingly bad feeling though with the delay of that and so this isn't at all surprising sadly.
Give a 2 year licence to South Melbourne instead and see what they can deliver? Let them prove they've got the fans and what it takes to compete in the ALM. Set some metrics they need to hit and renew the license if they've met them. Nothing to lose
Fark, what a shark situation. Over promised and under delivered. I feel for the fans. It's a part of Oz they could easily host a functioning Aliga team so they just miss out.
The licensing regulations are designed to “safeguard the credibility and integrity” of Australian football competitions and cover criteria such as financial standards. The initial deadline for clubs to comply was May, but FA was working with multiple clubs to help them meet the criteria until the amended deadline of 31 July.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/08/a-league-club-western-united-licence-withdrawn-under-football-australia-regulations
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/08/a-league-club-western-united-licence-withdrawn-under-football-australia-regulations
Fark, what a shark situation. Over promised and under delivered. I feel for the fans. It's a part of Oz they could easily host a functioning Aliga team so they just miss out.
You can't play in front of 500 people and run a professional club.
I've wanted them to succeed, especially with their own stadium. Had an increasingly bad feeling though with the delay of that and so this isn't at all surprising sadly.
Give a 2 year licence to South Melbourne instead and see what they can deliver? Let them prove they've got the fans and what it takes to compete in the ALM. Set some metrics they need to hit and renew the license if they've met them. Nothing to lose
I've wanted them to succeed, especially with their own stadium. Had an increasingly bad feeling though with the delay of that and so this isn't at all surprising sadly.
Give a 2 year licence to South Melbourne instead and see what they can deliver? Let them prove they've got the fans and what it takes to compete in the ALM. Set some metrics they need to hit and renew the license if they've met them. Nothing to lose
GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS
The Sth Melbourne entry has been bought up a few times. However those in the know say they, like many of the other historic clubs are financial basket cases with poor governance issues.
Mind you its hard to imagine they would be worse than Wests. Maybe a two year trial might work. I dont think the ethnic issue is still s big deal. Most of the Greeks there are now second or third generation Ozzies with little baggage from the old country.
The A League is a bit of a mess. Several other clubs are not in good shape
Mind you its hard to imagine they would be worse than Wests. Maybe a two year trial might work. I dont think the ethnic issue is still s big deal. Most of the Greeks there are now second or third generation Ozzies with little baggage from the old country.
The A League is a bit of a mess. Several other clubs are not in good shape
The last thing the league needs is another defunct team.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
NZ Knights
Gold Coast
North Queensland Fury
Western United????
Canberra forever coming “soon”.
Not a good look really.
The Kingz were part of the NSL.
Paramount want 'product' of a 26-27 regular game season. They probably have a contract with the APL for that. 12 teams & 22 H&A games ain't enough. There will be 3 derbies this season & likely stay that way even if Canberra do finally manage to enter.
Could losing games screw up the next broadcast deal, the one everyone’s hoping will inject some much-needed cash back into the league?
Western United Football Club is bitterly disappointed by the decision taken by Football Australia (FA) and the First Instance Body (FIB) today.
The Club will be exercising its right to appeal the decision immediately, with confidence of a positive outcome as the sale of the Club and injection of capital from KAM Melbourne continues to progress.
We wish to assure every single member, supporter and the broader Australian football public that we will fight for our Club with the same spirit, belief and resilience that has defined us from the very beginning. We will continue to stand together as we have done in the face of adversity in the past, and we will exhaust every avenue to continue being able to represent our community with pride.
As this is a regulatory process, the Club will be making no further comment at this time.
Just remember we were nearly given the flick. I feel foor their few fans. They should be playing their role in attracting more to games just like us. I do hope it gets sorted. Paramount need to come to the table. Offering stingy deals isn't going to gain them viewer's, as fans tune out.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
Fark, what a shark situation. Over promised and under delivered. I feel for the fans. It's a part of Oz they could easily host a functioning Aliga team so they just miss out.
Yes, they haven't delivered fans - but that doesn't seem to have been from want of trying.
As far as I can tell from what their fans say, right now South Melbourne has no interest in being part of the "plastic, doomed" A-League and is concentrating on the Australian Championship and OFC Professional League
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
Just remember we were nearly given the flick. I feel foor their few fans. They should be playing their role in attracting more to games just like us. I do hope it gets sorted. Paramount need to come to the table. Offering stingy deals isn't going to gain them viewer's, as fans tune out.
Yes but the reasons for each dismssal are very different, financial viability is clearly important to the league, us being an NZ team had little to no negative impact at all. In fact given AFC's success in season one you could say the nix were a massive positive impact on the league.
Queenslander 3x a year.
What do you reckon. NZ football steps on up in combination with the city of Christchurch and they say, we will take the franchise for free and keep your comp afloat.
Didn’t Bill pay 20 mill for his license?
Didn’t Bill pay 20 mill for his license?
No thank you. I do not hear much clamouring around our town for an A-League club in Christchurch, and the availability of good facilities is not enough in absence of decent money needed to develop a following for a club from the scratch. Meyn is not Foley.
First dibs - if any - should to go to any ALM project that needs less runup. For example, Canberra might be more of a goer at this point. Consider that for all the talk, neither Adelaide nor Brisbane are seriously pushing for a second club even if local rivalries was the idea that FOX was pushing (they wanted derbies) before they dropped the broadcasting deal.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
What do you reckon. NZ football steps on up in combination with the city of Christchurch and they say, we will take the franchise for free and keep your comp afloat.
Didn’t Bill pay 20 mill for his license?
Didn’t Bill pay 20 mill for his license?
No thank you. I do not hear much clamouring around our town for an A-League club, and the availability of good facilities is not enough in absence of decent money needed to develop a following for a club from the scratch.
First dibs - if any - should to go to a project that needs less runup. Canberra might be more of a goer at this point. Neither Adelaide nor Brisbane are seriously pushing for a second club even if local rivalries was the idea that FOX was pushing (they wanted derbies) before they dropped the broadcasting deal.
Yes, a 3rd NZ team is just too early at this stage. AFC has a billionaire backing them that's why it has taken off the way it did. But it remains to be seen if that hype lasts... If it does and the A-League regains some stability then maybe it could work some time in the future
What do you reckon. NZ football steps on up in combination with the city of Christchurch and they say, we will take the franchise for free and keep your comp afloat.
Didn’t Bill pay 20 mill for his license?
Didn’t Bill pay 20 mill for his license?
No thank you. I do not hear much clamouring around our town for an A-League club, and the availability of good facilities is not enough in absence of decent money needed to develop a following for a club from the scratch.
First dibs - if any - should to go to a project that needs less runup. Canberra might be more of a goer at this point. Neither Adelaide nor Brisbane are seriously pushing for a second club even if local rivalries was the idea that FOX was pushing (they wanted derbies) before they dropped the broadcasting deal.
Not sure there was that much clamouring around Auckland for an A League club either. Lots of people thought there was an undercurrent of latent quiet football support in the 09, just off the size of the city and the number of people playing the sport in the upper Nth Island.
But really it was in the too hard basket there, until first that NZ Breakers part owner, and then Foley showed up with the dosh. Prior to that plenty of people on here were saying after the Kingz/Knights failures a new club in Auckland just wouldn't work.
The South Island has wealthy football fanatic Slava Meyn, and soon a spectacular go to destination stadium in downtown ChCh. But they will likewise need a super rich sports nut(s) to bankroll any new club. Again it could be a foreigner.
If anything the probable demise of WU, is a warning to any new expansion clubs/franchises, that you need that very rich backer prepared to stay the course, plus be in a catchment where min regular crowds of 6-7K should be expected. Preferably higher.
I really hope ChCh United gets a spot in the OFC Professional League. That league will be played as hubs so even if CU do get in they may not host any games. But the football community there would get some early indication of the local appetite for a possible A League club.
Edit - a new South Island A League club may have very little direct setup involvement from local clubs, just like as was the case with Auckland FC.
ie those in the Canterbury/Otago football community may have their doubts whether it would work, but people with serious money get behind it and it just happens anyway.