The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has been informed that WMG Football Club Limited, the owner and operator of Western United Football Club, was placed into liquidation today by order of the Federal Court of Australia.
With this, Liquidators have been appointed, following the Federal Court Application commenced by the Australian Taxation Office. It is understood there are avenues for appeal that may be available to interested parties.
Commenting on the news, Stephen Conroy, APL Executive Chairman said: “We are extremely disappointed to learn that WMG Football Club Limited, the company which owns and operates Western United Football Club, has been placed into liquidation.”
“This is a difficult time for all of the fans, staff, players and coaches of Western United, and we acknowledge their hard work and commitment to the club through challenging circumstances over the last six years.
“We will now work with the Liquidator, PFA and Wyndham City Council, to ensure the impacted staff, players and coaches at the club have access to the support they need at this difficult time.”
In respect of the planning for season 25/26, Stephen Conroy, APL Executive Chairman added: “While this is tough news, we remain steadfast in our commitment to continue the sustained growth across our leagues, and our planning is ongoing to ensure another strong and successful A-Leagues season.”
“Alongside our support for everyone involved with Western United, the team has been working on a revised fixture for the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women. We will announce both our men’s and women’s fixtures in the next two weeks to allow all fans and clubs to continue their build up to season 25/26.”
“We’re also continuing our work with clubs and partners to build on the success of last season – with further growth in our TV audience and the highest total attendance since 2016/17 – as we engage with more fans across Australia and New Zealand.”
“While on the field the football is fantastic, off the field the league has moved from a significant financial loss to a profit in FY25, which allows us to reinvest more into our leagues and provides a platform for sustained growth over the coming seasons.”
The APL will now proceed with plans to address immediate implications for season 25/26. Concurrently, the APL will commence a broader process to review the best options for the league structure moving forward, and will provide a further update in due course.
The Isuzu UTE A-League Men kicks off on October 17, with the Ninja A-League Women to start season 2025/26 on October 31. For more information on the A-Leagues head to www.aleagues.com.au
