Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Western United’s hopes of revival and returning to the A-Leagues could take a major step forward this week, with the club’s fate to be discussed at a meeting of the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) board.
Western have been placed in hibernation since September last year and did not feature in the previous season’s A-League Men or A-League Women (ALW) competitions.
But as the APL prepares to meet on Thursday to discuss the future of Canberra United and the Central Coast Mariners’ ALW side, Western have received a glimmer of hope there may be a route back to on-field action.
The APL board is set to discuss the club’s roadmap back to competitive football and is expected to provide an update on Western’s ownership status.
Western’s existence has been in a state of flux for the past 12 months after several reports of the club encountering financial turmoil, including the late payment of wages and superannuation.
Western successfully staved off liquidation at the start of the year, having been pursued over a $15.5 million tax debt, but Football Australia opted against returning the club’s A-League licence in May.
AAP understands there are now two parties interested in reviving Western.
One of those bids is fronted by education entrepreneur Azeezur Rahaman and the other is backed by property tycoon Harry Stamoulis, who was previously a director at Melbourne Victory and sold his shares in 2014.
AAP has attempted to contact both Rahaman and Stamoulis.
Western are understood to have been left out of a proposed fixture list circulated to clubs over the past week.
Fixtures are scheduled to be released on July 16 ahead of an October 16 season start.
Western would be targeting a return for the 2026-27 season if talks with potential investors advance.
“We continue to monitor the situation at Western United, with the club’s ongoing position within the league dependent on the outcomes of the financial, governance and operational aspects that they are working through over the coming months,” APL chief executive Steve Rosich said in a statement to AAP.
A majority stake in the club was sold to investment group KAM Sports, which had previously failed in takeover bids of several European football clubs and later backed out of purchasing Western.
Meanwhile, the fate of the Central Coast Mariners’ ALW side is at an advanced stage, with interested parties expected to reach a resolution with the APL for the takeover of the club’s licence in the next fortnight
The Mariners’ ALW side was left in the lurch last month when Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) opted against purchasing the women’s team.
But their hopes of featuring in the upcoming season are set to be resuscitated.
