Rod McGeoch and Anthony Minichiello caught up in start-up Inotap legal stoush

Former NRL star Anthony Minichiello and legendary administrator Rod McGeoch were both directors of Inotap, which is the subject of wind-up action in the NSW Supreme Court

Roosters legend Anthony Minichiello has been caught up in the legal situation. Picture: Richard Dobson

Two prominent Sydney personalities have been caught up in an ugly legal stoush, with claims a start-up company owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.

Last year legendary sporting administrator Rod McGeoch and former NRL star Anthony Minichiello were recruited as founding directors of Inotap, a tech platform owned by convicted fraudster John Issa.

The company specialises in “digital identity verification” and is understood to still be attracting significant interest from prominent sporting and real estate organisations.

However, Inotap is now the subject of wind-up proceedings commenced by a former business associate, Michael Bezzina, with the case due in the Supreme Court of NSW on July 18.

It’s understood that Mr Bezzina’s company Pit Stop Recharge Pty Ltd will claim they are owed at least $250,000 by Inotap over a failed acquisition.\

Mr McGeoch, who spent less than a year as an Inotap director before resigning, has told The Daily Telegraph he had not had any dealings with the company for roughly six months.

“Last year a group of high-level business people asked me to help Mr Issa develop his idea. I agreed to do that and I am still very supportive of his business idea.” Mr McGeoch said.

“However, John (Issa) was simply unable to continue raising funds. He ended up selling his house and is still endeavouring to make the company a reality.

Sporting administrator Rod McGeoch. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“He has personally guaranteed to me that he will ensure everyone who is owed money will be paid. And I am going to see to it.”

When asked why Mr McGeoch had suddenly walked away from Inotap, he responded:

“It’s awkward for a director to continue when a company can’t pay its bills.

“I have never been paid a cent from this business. Not even my director’s fee. I also personally invested money and I’ve probably lost it. John just couldn’t pay me.”

Mr McGeoch is believed to be roughly $300,000 out of pocket from the start-up.

Another founding director of Inotap, former rugby league star Anthony Minichiello, was approached for comment.

Mr Minichiello was also involved in a separate business venture with Mr Issa, known as Sports Foyer, which collapsed in May under a tax debt of more than $1 million.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr McGeoch or Mr Minichiello, and neither are party to the legal action later this month.

In 2018, Mr Issa pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud.

However, Mr McGeoch insisted he had “absolutely no knowledge of (Issa’s) fraud conviction... and the people who recommended him to me I don’t think did either.”

When contacted by The Daily Telegraph, John Issa said: “Inotap doesn’t owe anyone any money. We have paid all our bills” but refused to elaborate further.

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