Australian players are pushing for unprecedented A-Leagues salary cap exemptions this season as those left unemployed by the Western United saga rush to find new clubs.
Financially embattled United were placed into "hibernation" by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) last week, leaving 39 A-League Men (ALM) and A-League Women (ALW) players as free agents.
Until then, the players could not officially negotiate with other clubs.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) says many players have struggled to find new teams because clubs have already planned their salary caps and rosters.
The union wants clubs to have a one-off "rehoming exemption" to spend an additional $375,000, on up to two United ALM players, and $70,000 for up to two United ALW players.
Those salaries would sit outside the respective caps.
The initiative would also permit additional roster spots solely for United players, outside a 23-player squad, to help players find homes without being required to take hefty pay cuts.
"Already these players are facing enormous challenges to find employment," PFA chief executive Beau Busch told AAP.
"What we've proposed to the APL is a solution that we believe is common sense that allows for greater flexibility for clubs to be able to contract former Western United players.
"And to ensure that the salary cap doesn't act as a barrier ... or that roster restrictions act as a barrier."
It is understood the APL, which has been contacted for comment, does not intend to change current salary cap exemptions.
Those exemptions include two marquee players, two designated players, loyalty players, scholarship players, homegrown players, guest players and replacement players.
United ALM captain Ben Garuccio, winger Abel Walatee and midfielder Angus Thurgate have links elsewhere, while capped Matilda Adriana Taranto is attracting attention.
Were additional cap space provided, bigger clubs such as Melbourne City and Sydney FC appear best placed to pounce on free agents.
Busch noted there were already "big clubs and small clubs" who chose to invest in their programs differently, especially in ALW, and didn't believe exemptions would unfairly advantage certain clubs.
"We're in an extraordinary situation," he said.
"We're talking about the employment of close to 40 professional players that have committed to the sport, and ultimately they've been let down by the sport.
"This is about simply doing the right thing by those players."
A large percentage of United's men's players earn less than $100,000, with Busch noting players were having to break leases, rent houses or change their children's schools.
"They're now in a situation where they don't know when they're next going to be paid, how they're going to meet those bills," Busch said.
"All those relocation costs are significant, and they're doing that in an environment where the clubs where they can potentially go to have already had a significant period of time to recruit and spend the majority of their budget."
Busch noted ALW players, whose minimum wage is only $26,000, were already feeling the strain of semi-professional football, and some would struggle to relocate while maintaining external employment.
"We know that from our discussions with a number of A-League Women's players at Western United, what they're saying at the moment is they are weighing up whether it's worth continuing to play in the competition," he said.
There are also concerns over foreign signings, whose visas and/or work permits are tied to their contracts.
Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki's future is uncertain, while club stalwart Tomoki Imai has already returned to Japan at Machida Zelvia.
The PFA has organised training sessions at The Home of the Matildas in Bundoora, with volunteer assistance from some club staff members, to allow United's players to stay fit.
"They don't know when they're going to be paid next, when they're going to be able to resume their careers, so that poses enormous challenges," Busch said.
"What I would say is this is a group that's incredibly tight and they've been through a lot together, and they've built an extraordinary sense of camaraderie."
The ALW season starts on October 17, with the ALW kicking off two weeks later.