Western United under microscope after players’ pay delayed

Western United’s men’s and women’s teams have enjoyed success on the pitch, but the club is under the microscope after players’ pay was delayed in the latest issue to face the A-Leagues club.

Western United Western United’s financial issues are under the microscope after its men’s and women’s players had their pay delayed. Picture: Getty Images

A-Leagues club Western United’s financial issues are under the microscope after its men’s and women’s players had their pay delayed.

While both teams are enjoying success on the pitch, having qualified for this year’s finals, there appears to be angst off it with several A-League insiders telling Code Sports that all United players were not paid on time last week.

Players were informed that there would be a delay but were not given any official reason for it. Western United has been contacted for comment.

The Professional Footballers’ Australia, the players’ union, was involved in the situation. The union has also been contacted for comment.

Code Sports understands that all players were paid by the middle of this week but the news comes amid an uncertain financial future for the Victorian club.

Western United’s men’s team are third on the ladder. Picture: Getty Images

In March it was revealed the Australian Taxation Office was attempting to wind up the two companies - WMG Football Club and WMG Holdings Co - that underpin Western United.

The club at the time issued a statement saying it was working to rectify the issue.

“Western Melbourne Group is aware of the matter which concerns a legacy debt carried over during the pandemic,” the statement said.

“We have been in negotiations with the ATO for several years, working collaboratively to reach an outcome.”

WMG Football Club lost $12.4 million in the year June 2023 and has $44.1 million outstanding to related parties.

One source described the pay situation for the players as “inexcusable”.

WMG Football Club, one of two companies to underpin Western United, lost $12.4 million in the year June 2023 and has $44.1 million outstanding to related parties. Picture: Getty Images

“Clearly there are financial difficulties, anytime you don’t pay your players,” a source said.

“Especially if you want them to keep performing. But it is not particularly uncommon, I know of at least one other A-Leagues’ club this year that didn’t pay their players on time.

“They are not the only ones under financial stress.

“I would be surprised if there were any clubs in the A-League that were actually making money.”

All clubs were dealt a big blow before the season even started with the APL reducing the Central Distribution Fund contributions to clubs by 75 per cent, down to $530,000.

In a shock move last week the APL announced further measures to stabilise the league with the introduction of a salary cap for the men’s competition.

Western United’s women’s team have qualifed for the finals, as have the men’s team. Picture: Getty Images

The changes will be introduced on a trial basis next season with a “soft salary cap” of $3.5 million and no penalties for breaching it.

From the 2026/27 season the cap will be $3 million with an allowance for one marquee player.

Western United aren’t the only club to have gone through financial issues. Perth Glory had to be taken over by the APL after a buyer couldn’t be found and Newcastle Jets was propped up by other clubs after its former owner Martin Lee was stripped of his licence in January 2021. Both clubs now have new owners.

A-Leagues’ executive chair Stephen Conroy told media last week that despite all the reports regarding Western United’s financial situation he was confident the club would feature in next year’s A-League’s season.

Western United entered the A-Leagues in 2019. WMG Holdings had proposed to build a 15,000 seat stadium at Tarneit on land gifted to it by the Wyndham City Council. The rest of the land was supposed to be transformed into 900 homes. But the stadium is yet to happen with games played at a smaller site that holds 4000 spectators.

Work on the property development is also yet to start.

Originally published as Western United under microscope after players’ pay delayed