AAMI Park may again be a home ground for three Victorian A-League clubs if Western United’s bid to play at Lakeside Stadium falls through.
AAMI Park remains an option as a home ground for Western United if the A-League club fails in its bid to play home games at Lakeside Stadium.
Western United last Thursday announced it would play seven home matches at Lakeside Stadium in the upcoming 2021-22 A-League season after signing an agreement with the State Sports Centres Trust, who are responsible for the governing of the Albert Park sporting precinct.
However, NPL Victoria club South Melbourne, who use Lakeside Stadium as its home ground, is refusing to allow a “direct competitor” to use the same venue.
It has left Western United in limbo with the A-League season scheduled to start in November.
Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis hoped the matter would be resolved by the end of the week.
Western United entered into an agreement with the trust,” Pehlivanis said on Monday night.
“We’re not privy to their contractual obligations with South Melbourne.
“They’re working through that as we speak, and we’re hopeful to have a result this week.”
If South Melbourne is successful in preventing Western United using Lakeside Stadium, Pehlivanis said United might again use AAMI Park – the home ground of A-League rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City – as a home venue.
United will also play home matches this season in Geelong, Ballarat and Launceston this season.
The club also announced last week it was starting work on Wyndham City Stadium next month.
Pehlivanis also confirmed United was in talks with AFL club Essendon about using the Bombers’ Tullamarine facility as a training and administration base.
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