A company linked to the embattled Western United project has removed Jason Sourasis from its structure, as Collingwood Magpies player Scott Pendlebury continues legal action against his former manager over almost $3 million he alleges was transferred without his knowledge.
Pendlebury is suing Sourasis in the Victorian Supreme Court, claiming his former manager moved and loaned nearly $3 million to a company connected to the A-League club’s ownership group. He alleges the funds were invested without his consent and remain unpaid.
The removal relates to WMG Holdings, a company tied to Western United’s ownership and development structure, with documents filed to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission confirming external administrators Alvarez & Marsal have been appointed “jointly and severally”.
The move is understood to be part of efforts to stabilise the club’s financial position and assist ongoing attempts to secure funding for the struggling A-League entity.
Pendlebury was among several athletes and investors who backed the Western United project, which aimed to develop a stadium and residential precinct in Tarneit. The club, which won the A-League championship in 2022, has since been plagued by financial issues and was denied a licence to compete for a second consecutive season.
The club’s backers, including US investment firm Johnson Controls, have been attempting to revive the deal, while removing Sourasis from corporate roles is seen as part of last-minute efforts to restore confidence.
Sourasis did not respond to requests for comment, but has previously denied Pendlebury’s allegations, saying he had text messages and emails supporting his version of events.
He has also reportedly sent voice notes to investors claiming he had secured funding from a Singapore investor to support the project’s continuation.
Sourasis originally signed a deal with Wyndham City Council in 2019 to establish Western United and develop surrounding land, including a promised rectangular stadium in Tarneit, though questions remain over whether the stadium plan has been altered.
Wyndham City Council has not responded to questions about potential changes to the project scope, including suggestions it may shift toward a smaller facility such as a pool rather than a $100 million stadium.
Source: Herald Sun.
