West-Gone United

I'd have Thurgate in a heart beat. 

So it is finally officially done. 12 team comp for the men, lots of WU players on the market

Yep a 'conditional hibernation' for the 25/26 season - if they manage to stay afloat they could return for 26/27, which their latest statement says they are aiming towards.

https://wufc.com.au/news/western-united-fc-septsix/

"United to Build for Future, A-Leagues Participation Paused
Saturday 6 September 2025

Western United acknowledges today’s update from the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) confirming that the Club’s participation agreement will be placed into hibernation for the 2025/26 A-Leagues season.

This decision, made in close consultation with the APL, is a strategic step that will allow us to reset and position Western United for a stronger future in Australian football. While our elite program will pause for a season, our dedication to the people, football participants and the vibrant community of the west is unwavering and undiminished. 

Our Academy, Development Centres and community programs will continue to operate at full pace, ensuring that aspiring players and passionate supporters across the region have every opportunity to remain engaged with the game they love. We will work diligently with Football Victoria to ensure our WUFC Academy program remains in place for the upcoming 2026 season.

We also respect that due process must be followed as legal and regulatory matters continue, and we accept that time is now needed to reset and prepare the Club for a sustainable future. Regarding the current matter with the Federal Court, the case remains stayed until a review of the case is heard, we are working directly and collaboratively with the ATO to resolve the matter. 

To our A-Leagues players, coaches and staff, we say simply and sincerely: we are sorry. The uncertainty you have faced is not what you deserved.

We acknowledge this has been an incredibly difficult period. We sincerely share the disappointment felt by our players, coaches, staff, members, fans and partners who have lived through weeks of uncertainty about the future of the green and black.

Since the beginning, Western United has achieved more than many thought possible.

We have lifted the Isuzu UTE A-League Men Championship trophy, competed in three consecutive Ninja A-League Women finals campaigns, and created a clear pathway from grassroots to national teams for the football community in the West. 

In partnership with Wyndham City Council, we’ve made Ironbark Fields a bustling centre of football activity for the local community with matches, training and clinics running almost every day of the week. From juniors taking their first steps in the game to elite players preparing for competition, Ironbark has become the home of football in the west and a foundation for the growth of the game in the region.

Our proudest achievement, and a key focus for the future, is our community involvement across Melbourne’s west and regional centres such as Geelong and Ballarat.  Over 4,000 junior footballers have participated in a Western United community program including Western United Cup tournaments, school programs and community club partnerships. These events have become a celebration of football in the west, creating opportunities for kids to dream, for families to connect and for the game to grow. 

None of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of our staff, the dedication of our volunteers, the trust of our partners and the unwavering support of our members and fans. Each of you have played a role in shaping Western United into the Club it is today, and we hope you will continue to do so.

To our fans, thank you. You have stood with us through every challenge, from a global pandemic to a rotation of venues on the journey to Tarneit and everything in between. You have travelled across Australia and New Zealand to show your colours, made Ironbark Fields your home, built friendships that will last a lifetime and, most importantly, believed in the Club against all odds.

Let us be absolutely clear: this is not a farewell, nor is it a step back. This is an investment in our future, a proactive move that will empower us to reset and come back revitalised. Throughout the 2025/26 A-Leagues season, we will work tirelessly behind the scenes to build an even more sustainable and successful club. We are determined to return in the 2026/27 A-Leagues season with renewed energy and an unwavering commitment to reach new heights.

The story of Western United is still being written. The green and black has already made its mark on Australian football, and together with our people and our community, the best chapters are still to come.

Western United men's coach John Aloisi remains contracted, per a club spokesperson. https://t.co/mYlfHJjZMx

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) September 6, 2025

'John Aloisi remains contracted'

So does that mean all their players are released from their contracts? If the club isnt folding, then they could still hold them. 

Players are free - that has been stated

And please whilst hibernating and planning the big come back, do us all a favour and update your logo and name. My suggestion: West Melbourne United.
So this club actually has more of an identity.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360815737/we-are-sorry-players-released-league-club-placed-hibernation-2025-26-season
weird situation, they'll keep the coach, lose all their players who of course will find whatever gig they can. Total rebuild for next season, assuming the owners are still around after have zero income.

Sign Thurgate NOW! Before anyone else does.

LG

Sign Thurgate NOW! Before anyone else does.

Let's take a number and join that queue

Mainland FC

LG

Sign Thurgate NOW! Before anyone else does.

Let's take a number and join that queue

No way will he come to us. Picking we get nobody from these crumbs

I also predict no reinforcements will be coming from Western 

Garuccio isn't mentioned nearly as often as a few other Western departees, though the idea of actually having a left back in the squad does appeal somewhat. 

He once said he'd be interested in playing under Chief, but I suppose we were topping the table or close to it at the time. 

Update from Football Australia on Western United's appeal against the stripping of their A-League licence.

Hearing took place last night. pic.twitter.com/KiLpaW3kT5

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) September 10, 2025

A new statement from Football Australia about the Western United situation.

Pretty confusing but I think the Appeals body has said to the board that stripped the licence to go back and gather additional documents?

Half a Pint

Update from Football Australia on Western United's appeal against the stripping of their A-League licence.

Hearing took place last night. pic.twitter.com/KiLpaW3kT5

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) September 10, 2025

A new statement from Football Australia about the Western United situation.

Pretty confusing but I think the Appeals body has said to the board that stripped the licence to go back and gather additional documents?

I’m no expert, but the phrase “consider additional documents” suggests Western’s lawyers successfully argued that the First Instance Body didn’t take into account all the evidence it should have.

The Appeals Body isn’t expressing any opinion on whether the extra documents will change anything (beyond “they’re worth a look”), so for all we know this could just be prolonging the inevitable.

They cant play without any fixtures!

forgone conclusion

Dylan Leonard was the one WU player I thought would be best for us to pick up, but he's gone on to bigger things - signed for Schalke.

I hope they return and Canberra finally sort their crap out and make an appearance. Their women's side are doing well.

RR

🚨 @AthosSirianos (🌕):

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 club landed the funds by the due date to avoid being wound up.

🧵 - 1/3 pic.twitter.com/oGkXkXYost

— AusFootHQ (@ALeagueHQ) January 7, 2026

What does this actually mean, they’re not quite dead yet or might they actually come back?

exactly that, they've passed the first of many hurdles on the journey back.

theprof

exactly that, they've passed the first of many hurdles on the journey back.

Would be nice to have them back, but yeah, providing there’s another team to make it even numbers.

I cant see Canberra starting which is sad. 

Now that Auckland has all my ire, I want them back in the league.  You got this Western United!  We believe in you, but please for the love of god make sure your plan is to stay affordable while you get your org under control.

Is it wrong that I’m not sure if I want them back? 

Look at Auckland coming in with crowds over 15k. The number of shirts and the buzz in the local media surely means broadcast eyeballs too. 

We got these two expansions because Fox and Gallop wanted derbies. They’ve played good football, but not brought in the crowds. 

I’d love to see an expansion with some crowds and buzz. Would West Sydney be the last one? 

A football club that represents a place and an identity that already exists, rather than having to create one.

And also some kind of apology and marketing tour or something in Melbourne to get the fans back there. The league lost an equivalent of a new club there during the pandemic years. 

maybe the comeback tour can be done better, engage with the fans as soon as their return is guaranteed.

I also think they do exist now. They seemed to be doing great things in the community from as far as I could tell? Whether they should have been able to join the league in the first place is another thing, but they've held their own (annoyingly at times), just need the fan engagement.

Didn't they want a time out to sort out a few issues and then come back into the league later??

WanderingSheep

I also think they do exist now. They seemed to be doing great things in the community from as far as I could tell? Whether they should have been able to join the league in the first place is another thing, but they've held their own (annoyingly at times), just need the fan engagement.

Agreed. Despite the all too predictable financial mess that resulted from awarding a franchise to a club with no feasible prospect of getting a home stadium WU have achieved a weird kind of uniqueness which sympathy for the underdog leads me to want to see them survive. 

They are a much more interesting club than MC for example, who, no matter how good a football they play I have always found quite colourless. For all their deep pockets, quality imports and league titles they've still got bugger all fans, and their ground sharing arrangement with MV dilutes their individuality even more, to the point that sometimes I get sick of the sight of a three quarters empty AAMI Park. At least the bleak wind swept horror of Ironbark Fields has a certain comedy value.

I agree that M City never managed to differentiate themselves as an equal rival to the behemoth (on ALM scale) that is M Victory, even if City can beat them on a good day and have done so.   Western United stands apart from both of them, at least visually.  
I am less familiar with the Melbourne sporting landscape, but I know Sydney well.  There is a very large identity difference between Sydney FC and WSW.  Macarthur, CCM and the Jets have their somewhat different identities also.   

It's more that the Western corridor of Melbs is a big population growth corridor (lots of immigrants who's sporting choice is football not AFL), and no real community sporting team playing matches out that far. Western Bulldogs AFL play their games in the city (MCG & Docklands), and I think train closer in at Footscray.

If WU can rise from the ashes, and the new 15,000 flash Tarneit stadium be built (they played last season at that windswept Ironbark training venue) they may become a proper community club with a reasonable supporter base bedded in.

Surely the serious thing to do would be to bring the Snakes back at the same time as introducing another expansion team (Canberra? Woollongong? Gold Coast?) to create a 14 team two-home-and-away-rounds comp

Doloras

Surely the serious thing to do would be to bring the Snakes back at the same time as introducing another expansion team (Canberra? Woollongong? Gold Coast?) to create a 14 team two-home-and-away-rounds comp

Sensible...APL...🤣

Doloras

Surely the serious thing to do would be to bring the Snakes back at the same time as introducing another expansion team (Canberra? Woollongong? Gold Coast?) to create a 14 team two-home-and-away-rounds comp

And no finals.

Buffon II

Doloras

Surely the serious thing to do would be to bring the Snakes back at the same time as introducing another expansion team (Canberra? Woollongong? Gold Coast?) to create a 14 team two-home-and-away-rounds comp

And no finals.

In Australia 🤣🤣

Buffon II

Doloras

Surely the serious thing to do would be to bring the Snakes back at the same time as introducing another expansion team (Canberra? Woollongong? Gold Coast?) to create a 14 team two-home-and-away-rounds comp

And no finals.

The finals bring badly needed dosh to a cash strapped league. They are never going away.


Canberra have had 2-3 years now to get the $20M+ entrance fee together, and still seem no closer. Their women's team needed a ACT Govt bail out.

Haven't heard any local Gong or Gold Coast groups pushing themselves as alternatives. Need the TV rights deal to improve big time, so the annual club disbursements can get back up closer to where they were before. Macarthur are try to take legal action against the APL, due to financial promises not being met, ie the annual disbursements dropping away to basically nothing.

If WU returns the ALM maybe stuck at 13 teams for awhile, even if the APL want further expansion.

A South Island (popn catchment 1.25M, over 2x bigger than Canberra) team based out of shiny Te Kaha, maybe the best bet to be the 14th team. Having new OFC League club is a start.