Western United wound up as court rejects last-ditch attempt to save A-League club

The embattled A-League club Western United is officially defunct after the federal court ordered its management group be wound up in insolvency.

Lawyers for the club had sought an adjournment to proceedings, claiming they had found a fresh $15m investment to pay off their debts.

But on Friday afternoon, the adjournment, and with it a late attempt to save a which had been in financial turmoil for months, was dismissed.

Judicial registrar Robyn Curnow issued orders for Western United Football Club, WMG Holdings and three other companies owned by director Jason Sourasis to be wound up in insolvency.

Facing a tax bill amid concerns over unpaid wages and superannuation – and while under a Fifa registration ban – Western United were stripped of their A-League licence by Football Australia (FA) earlier this month.

FA’s move followed continued delays to a takeover deal with the American-based investors KAM, run by property tycoons Maciek and Mikhail Kaminski, which ultimately fell through.

KAM ultimately withdrew their bid for Western United on Wednesday after FA’s decision to revoke the Melbourne-based club’s licence, in a hammer blow to their hopes of survival.

On Thursday, Western United’s lawyer Bridget Slocum said the club had secured promises of a fresh cash injection from JC Capital which could be paid in “three to four weeks”.

Slocum said the investment was contingent on the club being reinstated to the A-League and the club be allowed to pay off its creditors and the ATO over the next “six to 12 months”.

But those hopes were swiftly dismissed on Friday afternoon.

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Western United was announced as an expansion club in 2018 and joined the A-League Men (ALM) ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Under John Aloisi, they won the ALM championship in 2021-22, while the club joined A-League Women in 2022-23.

The Australian Professional Leagues and Football Australia has been contacted for comment.

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