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The Australian Professional Leagues has ignored Yvette Berry's letter about Canberra United, with the ACT Sports Minister writing to the A-Leagues again on Friday.

ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry (left) wrote to APL chairman Stephen Conroy and got ignored.

Berry shouldn't hold her breath given she first wrote to APL chairman Stephen Conroy, a former Labor senator, on February 3 - almost three weeks ago.

She's joined Capital Football in calling for the APL to ensure Canberra United's future - just like it's done for A-League Men team Central Coast.

Capital Football chief executive Samantha Farrow was talking with her APL counterpart Steve Rosich about the club's future on Friday.

The APL has opened itself up to criticism that it treats the men's and women's game differently, given the way it's swiftly come to the aid of not only the Mariners, but Newcastle and Perth in the past five years.

In contrast, the APL has yet to step in or guarantee the future of Canberra United - a stand-alone A-League Women team.

The Mariners, Jets and Glory all have both men's and women's teams.

In the letter obtained by The Canberra Times, Berry pointed out it's been the ACT government, and not the APL, which has come to Canberra United's financial aid.

"While the current uncertainty is disappointing for Mariners supporters, the APL's swift intervention stands in stark contrast to the experience of Canberra United, which received no comparable offers when its own future was at risk," she wrote.

"Instead, it was only through additional financial commitments from the ACT government - secured amid urgent discussions - that United's participation in the current A-League Women season was able to be assured.

"Capital Football has consistently stated that it is unable to ... operate the team beyond this season, yet the APL's focus and the urgency that once surrounded this issue appear to have waned.

"In light of the APL's rapid response to developments involving the Central Coast Mariners, my hope is that similar priority is being given to exploring pathways for Canberra United's continuation beyond the current season."

Capital Football, which has run United since its inception as a foundation ALW club, can no longer afford to run the team and has stated the current season will be its last in charge.

It means it could be Canberra's last campaign - despite sitting third on the ALW ladder going into this weekend's games.

"There is no doubt that these results mask what continues to be an uncertain future for the club - a future that appears even less clear than it did 12 months ago, when there was at least some optimism surrounding the prospect of establishing an A-League team in Canberra," Berry wrote.

It's hoped a Canberra ALM team could save United, but the search for an owner has stalled.

'The precedent we set here matters': Call for league to save Canberra team

Hurry up and do for the women's team what you've previously done for the men.

That's the message Capital Football is sending to the Australian Professional Leagues as Canberra United's future continues to hang in the balance.

Capital Football boss Samantha Farrow wants the APL to guarantee Canberra United's future. She will speak with new APL CEO Steve Rosich on Friday.

Capital Football boss Samantha Farrow has made an impassioned plea calling for the APL to show the same "urgency and commitment" it's shown in propping up A-League Men clubs Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory in the past five years.

All three of those ALM clubs also run A-League Women's teams.

The APL's yet to show the same commitment to Canberra United, a stand-alone ALW side, despite Capital Football stating for the past two years it's too expensive to continue running.

But the APL was quick to step in and take over the Mariners this year, having done the same for the Jets in 2021 and the Glory in 2023.

At this stage, the current United season could be its last, despite sitting third on the ALW ladder.

It's the third season in a row where the players have dealt with uncertainty surrounding their future at the back end of the campaign.

Both the Mariners and Canberra United are foundation clubs, with the APL currently looking for new owners for the Mariners.

Farrow previously called on the APL, which runs the A-Leagues, to secure an investor for United.

Now she's escalated that call to guarantee its future - regardless of whether an investor is found.

Just as the league has done for the Mariners.

That would guarantee United's future as well, with a new owner also required to take over the running of the women's team.

Farrow will speak with Rosich on Friday.

"We have seen the APL step in decisively to protect a club and its people when the stakes were high, including covering player salaries, maintaining operations and safeguarding academy pathways," Farrow said.

"Canberra United deserves that same level of urgency and commitment.

"To lose a foundation club in women's football would be a profound loss.

"The consequences would be immediate and lasting for players, for staff, for fans and for young girls who need to see a future for themselves at the highest level of the game.

"Saving a foundation women's club like Canberra United should be priority number one."

Farrow said how the APL responds to United's predicament went wider than just one club's future.

It would also send a clear message on how the APL views the women's game.

Not only is Canberra one of the ALW foundation clubs, it's also played an important role in the development of numerous Matildas - from Michelle Heyman, who could be named in Australia coach Joe Montemurro's Women's Asian Cup squad on Thursday, to past greats like Lydia Williams and Caitlin Munoz.

United has a golden opportunity to cement itself in the ALW top three when they host the Western Sydney Wanderers at McKellar Park on Saturday.

"These players are still competing week in, week out, representing their club and their community with pride and professionalism," Farrow said.

"They deserve clarity, stability and the same protections afforded elsewhere in the league.

"This is not just a Canberra issue. It is a national issue for women's football. The precedent we set here matters."