Western United may have just got a life in football's A-League

The beleaguered Melbourne club could be back after a season out, after news that governing body the Australian Professional Leagues will place United's participation agreement into hibernation for the upcoming season.

The embattled Victorians were stripped of their licence and faced going under, over financial issues.

But now it seems their elite men's and women's programmes could only be put on hold for a season.

The Western academy will continue but their senior players can now seek employment elsewhere for 20-25/26 ... both the A-League competitions will be short a team this season, however.