A-League's Western United served with pay breach notices

Melbourne-based A-League Western United has been served with breach notices by a number of its players over overdue wages.

It’s the second time in two months that the club has been issued breach notices by unhappy players, who were also forced to endure late pay in May.

United had 14 days from Friday to make the payments. If the club fails to meet the deadline, players will be entitled to leave to the club, regardless of their contract status.

A club spokesman said United was in “constant communication with all players” and was working “closely with the PFA (Professional Footballers Australia) and the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) to ensure this is addressed in the coming days”.

Earlier in the week, United officials had been confident the club’s proposed new majority backers - KAM Melbourne - would have paid the players and staff their overdue wages by Friday.

However, the unpaid wages were not made, leading some players issuing breach notices via PFA.

KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of KAM Sports, was last month announced as financially troubled United’s new controlling stakeholders.

However, the deal is yet to be approved by the APL, which runs the A-League.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch last week advised that United’s players and staff were “victims of a governance model that is not fit for purpose, and where FA (Football Australia) and the APL appear unwilling to enforce their own regulations”.

Busch added "the professionalism of the Western United players and staff in the most trying conditions is a testament to their character and commitment to Australian football.

“The players (have been) left to fight for their most basic entitlement as employees. We will continue to ensure the players have access to the full resources of the PFA.”

Image: Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC competes for the ball with Riku Danzaki of Western United during the A-League Mens round 9 match at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on 23rd December 2023. Credit: Shutterstock.