The court on Friday rejected a bid from the Victorian club to pay – via creditor Johnson Controls – a reported debt of $15.5 million, ordering that Western United Football Club, WMG Holdings and three other companies that underpin the club to be wound up in insolvency.
However, the matter is yet to be fully resolved, with United – which was stripped of its A-League licence earlier this month by Football Australia – announcing on Friday night that the wind up order had been stayed, pending an application to review the Court’s decision.
“Once that application is made next week, the stay will operate until the appeal is heard.” United said via a statement on the club’s website.
“Western United is doing everything we can to continue our dream. We will continue to engage with the ATO and our sports and community stakeholders to have our licence renewed or reinstated.
“The west of Melbourne is one of the fastest growing communities in Australia and we remain committed to facilitating the community’s pathway for young boys and girls to use sport to dream big and fulfil their dreams.”
United players – who include arguably the A-League’s best midfielder Angus Thurgate, emerging talent Rhys Bozinovski and Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki – are set to become free agents should the appeal fail.
It’s understood Thurgate has already attracted interest from a handful of A-League clubs in the aftermath of United’s demise.
