Twice-snubbed club makes another bold pitch to join A-League
Updated . First published
Less than 24 hours after Western United’s demise due to financial challenges and legal issues, a potential replacement for the side in the A-League has emerged.
South Melbourne has put its hand up and is looking to lodge documents to become the next football club handed a licence to join the A-League.
South Melbourne players celebrate a win during the Australia Cup. Instagram/@southmelbournefc
The Victorian-based club confirmed its interest to open dialogue with the Australian Professional League (APL), who runs the A-League, about the matter.
Ironically, the declaration comes eight years after South Melbourne lost out to Western United to secure a spot in the A-League from the 2019-20 season.
South Melbourne co-president Bill Papastergiadis believes the odds were up against Western United as soon as they entered the league as “they were trying to build something up from nothing”.
He admitted it is never easy for staffers at any club to witness another fall apart. Still, he is confident in the capabilities of his club to join the league now.
“We are running three competitions at the moment, and we are playing more football than any other team. We have played 48 games this year,” he said on 3AW’s Sports Today with Jimmy Bartel.
“Football, like every other sport, is about aspirations, and that desire and willingness to compete.
“We want to compete at all levels, in particular the A-League. That is the reason. We love competition.”
“You never want to see a club fall over like Western United. I love football and I want every club to do well. But it was up against them because they were trying to build something up from nothing. ”
South Melbourne was one of the dominant clubs during the National Soccer League era, claiming four championships before the A-League came in 2005.
The club was, however, overlooked for a spot in the A-League’s inaugural season and then again denied entry during the 2018 expansion of the competition.
Despite being twice rejected, South Melbourne have never lost hope to re-join the competition, especially not with the loyal fan base they have.
Western United thanking fans after the A-League men’s semi-final match against Melbourne City in 2025 – one of the last times they played. Getty Images
Better yet, the team already has a home stadium with a capacity of 12,000 secured and also a competitive playing group which will help its case to the APL.
“Every A-League licence comes with its own criteria,” Papastergiadis continued.
“A stadium is a no-brainer [to secure that licence]. Very few A-League clubs have their own boutique stadium deals.
“We’ve also got the capacity to fill that stadium. We have shown that in ample competitions ... and being competitive on the field [is taken into account].
“We just beat Adelaide United, who are in the A-League, in the Australia Cup. I know United were bitterly disappointed by that.
“We also have well over 50 top corporates behind this club that are ready to make this a reality.”
Along with their most recent Australian Cup displays, Papastergiadis noted that the club were crowned the winners of the Australian Championship last season and also represent the nation in the Oceania Professional League.
Should a licence be awarded to the club, Papastergiadis has no intention of abandoning South Melbourne’s involvement in those other competitions.
“Our ambition is not to leave behind the competitions that have been important to our journey,” he said in a statement released by the club.
“We want to continue competing in the NPL, Australian Championship and Oceania Professional League while exploring whether South Melbourne can also have a place in the A-Leagues.
“This will open up even more opportunities for players across Victoria to play at a higher level.”
