Western United will not participate in the 2025/26 A-League season. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The A-League participation agreement of the Western United Football Club, which is based in Melbourne, has been put in "conditional hibernation" for the upcoming season, while the club deals with appeals relating to liquidation and the withdrawal of their A-League licence.
Without Western United, the Australian men's competition will kick off in October with 12 teams, while the women's competition will have 11 teams for the 2025/26 season.
Uncertainty about the future of the club had swirled for months, while other clubs and fans waited for the release of the fixtures list.
Last month, Football Australia cancelled Western United's A-League licence, but the club appealed the decision to kick it out of the league.
Football Australia's appeals and entry control body adjourned its decision to review the withdrawal of Western United's licence until 9 September, due to a request for further submissions from the parties involved.
However, the owner and operator of Western United was placed into liquidation last week by order of the Federal Court of Australia. An application for review of that decision has been lodged and a stay of those orders has been granted to hear the case, with a date for the new hearing to be confirmed.
The Australian Professional Leagues, which run the A-League, said it was important due process was followed in both proceedings, but a decision about the upcoming season needed to be made for the sake of other A-League clubs, and the Western United players and staff.
"The club needs time to work through these legal and regulatory proceedings, and re-establish their financial and operating position, but with the timing and outcome for both up in the air, we need to progress with our plans for season 25/26 without Western United," APL executive chairman Stephen Conroy said.
"The club has had great success on the pitch and their academies are an important pathway for emerging young talent in the Victorian football community - but we need to do what is best for the league, our partners and our other clubs at this time.
"We will continue to support the club and ownership group, as they work through these next steps and build towards re-entering the A-Leagues from season 2026/27 - if they are successful in their winding-up appeal, meet certain obligations with the APL and satisfy FA Club Licensing Regulations."
The club posted on its website: "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.
"Let us be absolutely clear - this is not a farewell nor is it a step back. This is an investment in our future, a pro-active 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."
Conroy said the decision to place Western United's CPA into hibernation was also made with consideration for the careers and livelihood of the current playing group, who - under this arrangement - could seek employment with other clubs for this coming season, while the transfer window was open.
"This has been a difficult period for everyone involved with the club - especially the playing group, who have faced uncertainty about their careers ahead of the transfer window closing and season starting. With this decision to hibernate the club's CPA for season 2025/26, the club has admirably also agreed to release the players, so they can seek alternative employment for next season."
The A-League men kicks off on 17 October, with the A-League women to start on 31 October.
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