Anthony Minichiello and Rod McGeoch sued over involvement in failing tech company

Two prominent Sydney personalities are facing legal action over their involvement in a struggling Sydney start up company, which allegedly owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.

Anthony Minichiello, a former Inotap director who has been listed as a respondent in legal action heading to the Federal Court next month Picture: Richard Dobson

Two prominent Sydney personalities are facing legal action over their involvement in a struggling Sydney start up company, which allegedly owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.

Former NRL star Anthony Minichiello and legendary sporting administrator Rod McGeoch have both been named as respondents in a claim which is due before the Federal Court next month.

The pair were founding directors of Inotap, a new digital platform which was attracting large interest from real estate and sporting organisations, but is understood to have run out of funding.

The company’s owner, John Issa, is a convicted fraudster who was recently declared bankrupt.

The claim before the Federal Court is understood to relate to Mr McGeoch and Mr Minichiello’s role with the failing company and the extent of their relationship with Mr Issa.

John Issa, convicted fraudster and founder of Inotap, which is now the subject of two separate legal actions. Picture: Supplied

Mr Minichiello and Mr McGeoch have denied all wrongdoing, and both left the Inotap board earlier this year.

Mr Minichiello told The Daily Telegraph he was initially unaware that he’d been made an official director.

“I was never involved in day to day operations. I was basically an ambassador. Once it became apparent that John (Issa) was bankrupt I resigned” he said.

Mr McGeoch also told The Daily Telegraph: “I had absolutely no knowledge of his (Issa’s) fraud conviction. And the people who recommended him to me I don’t think did either”.

Legendary sporting administrator Rod McGeoch, a former director of struggling start up Inotap. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr McGeoch, who led the successful Sydney 2000 Olympic bid, claims he has lost roughly $300,000 on Inotap, from both his director’s fee and money he personally invested.

The failure of the promising start up company has also inadvertently roped in a range of other prominent Sydney personalities, including former NRL CEO David Gallop and the head of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou.

David Gallop was wrongly listed as a board member on a draft mock-up on Inotap’s website. He claimed to have knocked back an involvement with the business. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

On a draft mock-up of the Inotap website, Mr Gallop was wrongly listed alongside Mr McGeoch and Mr Minichiello as a member of their board of directors.

However, Mr Gallop insisted he was only initially approached to join the board, but “decided against it.”

Mr Nicolaou was also named on the draft website as a member of Inotap’s ‘Advisory Panel’, however he told The Daily Telegraph he had no official involvement in the company.

“I was introduced to John Issa through Anthony Minichiello. I went to a few meetings but then sort of lost interest. I was never paid. I introduce thousands of people as part of my job.”

Paul Nicolaou was named as a member of Inotap’s ‘Advisory Panel’ but claims he had no official role with the company Picture: Richard Dobson

The start-up company is facing a separate legal claim on July 18 in the Supreme Court of NSW, where former business associates are demanding up to $250,000 over a failed acquisition.

Several employees of Inotap have also filed claims for unpaid wages.

Back in February a senior Inotap employee sent an email to Mr Issa, Mr Minichiello and Mr McGeoch, which reads in part:

“In the months of January and February 2024, the payment of employee wages has not occurred at all for the fortnightly pay periods… ending 21 January and 4 February” the staff member warned.

“Collectively, the outstanding wages and entitlements would exceed $100,000. I have genuine concerns that you are not properly accounting for money.”

When contacted yesterday, Mr Issa said: “I don’t individually owe anybody money. If they think they are owed money - they need to prove it.”

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