Melbourne fans express disappointment after Western United A-League licence withdrawal

Western United fans have expressed their disappointment after the team was stripped of its A-League licence late last week, but hold hope that an appeal would be successful.

Football Australia announced the "regrettable" decision on Friday, saying the club did not meet the criteria required to be granted a licence for Australia's professional soccer league.

The beleaguered Victorian club has faced financial issues since claiming the 2021/2022 A-League Men's title, having been served breach notices earlier this year over unpaid wages and superannuation.

Western United have a week to appeal Football Australia's decision. (ABC Kimberley: Vanessa Mills)

The club says it plans to appeal Football Australia's decision, but if the cancellation goes ahead, Western United's men's and women's teams will be booted from the A-League.

Based in Tarneit in Melbourne's west, Western United Football Club prides itself on representing soccer fans from the west of Victoria, including 13-year-old Lucas Playford.

He plays for Tarneit United Soccer Club, one of the many grassroots clubs in the western suburbs that has a partnership with Western United.

"I hope they can get their licence back so they can start up again and hopefully I can play for them," he said.

Lucas Playford says he wants to play for Western United one day. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)

Mohammad Aamiruddin plays for Tarneit United's under-16s, and said he felt disappointed by the news.

He said playing for Western United would be "a dream come true".

"It gives the people in the western suburbs a chance to make it to high levels," he said.

Mohammad Aamiruddin says Western United gives players in the west an opportunity to play professional soccer. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)

Michael Jenko has been a member of Western United for three years, and his son plays for Tarneit United.

While he said he was sad and shocked, he was optimistic the club's appeal would succeed.

"It's the only professional football club to play games in the western suburbs," he said.

Michael Jenko says he is optimistic Western United's appeal will be succesful. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)

"It'd be a missed opportunity for all the families here to be a part of something special.

"I think the A-League should do everything they can [to save it]."

Nyx Ahmed has also been supporting the club for a few years, and said her son currently plays with the Western United Academy — an elite pathway for talented young players.

"They mean so much to us, especially that they're our local club," she said.

"It's going to be a big loss for us."

Nyx Ahmed says her son currently trains with the Western United Academy. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)

Daniel Hoogstra is the chair of the Western United fan group, and said a lot of fans were "heartbroken".

He said if the club's licence was cancelled, it would likely fold, which would limit professional opportunities for young local footballers.

"I think for the broader western Melbourne community, this is really going to affect their pathways, potentially playing professional football for their local club and going on and becoming Socceroos and Matildas."

"Save the west, save Western United … this is an investment into the future of Australian football."

Future of stadium in doubt

The licence cancellation has put plans in doubt for a 15,000-seat soccer stadium in Melbourne's west — one of Australia's fastest growing areas.

The Wyndham Stadium Precinct is a joint proposal between the Wyndham City Council, Western Melbourne Group — which owns Western United — and a group of investors.

The project plans to transform a 63-hectare site along Sayers Rd in Tarneit into a sports, entertainment, business and residential precinct.

The centrepiece of the plan is a 15,000 capacity soccer stadium, which will become the home ground for Western United.

A render of the proposed Wyndham stadium, which will seat 15,000 spectators. (Supplied: Wyndham City Council)

The club's home is currently on this parcel of land, in a recently completed development called Ironbark Fields, which includes three pitches and a pavilion that seats 5,000 spectators.

Wyndham City Council corporate services director Mark Rossiter said while the licence cancellation was "disappointing", the council remained committed to the larger plan.

"We understand the club still has some appeal options and Wyndham will use that time to consider what this means for our partnership with Western Melbourne Group," he said.

"We continue to believe this is a unique initiative that has the potential to unlock an extraordinary level of public value, and we remain committed to realising this vision."

Western United currently trains at the recently built Ironbark Fields in Tarneit. (ABC News: Leanne Wong)

Mr Rossiter said council and ratepayers were "completely protected" by the "robust commercial and financial contracts" that were in place between them and Western Melbourne Group.

"Land earmarked for the Wyndham Stadium Precinct — including Ironbark Fields — is owned entirely by Wyndham City Council," he said.

"No land has been gifted or sold to Western Melbourne Group as part of this partnership."

Mr Hoogstra said if Western United won its appeal and kept its A-League licence, it needed to build the 15,000-seat stadium to survive.

"Building the stadium unlocks the land all around for development and sale, and that's really important for the club to be financially sustainable going forward," he said.

Daniel Hoogstra is the chair of the Western United fan group and says supporters are heartbroken. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)

Mr Hoogstra also said the club needed to finalise its ownership agreement.

In May, Western United struck an agreement with KAM Melbourne — a subsidiary of American group KAM Sports — which would see the company get a controlling stake in the club.

However, the agreement is yet to be finalised.

The club has until the end of the week to appeal Football Australia's decision.

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