Geelong coach Chris Scott faces court action over $830k bar bill
AFL coach Chris Scott is being chased for almost $830,000 in a bitter dispute over rent for bistro bar The Admiral, 40km south of Perth in Western Australia.
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EXCLUSIVE: AFL coach Chris Scott is being chased for almost $830,000 in a bitter dispute over rent for a pub in Western Australia.
Scott, 42, has been named as one of two defendants in a Supreme Court action over the running of bistro bar The Admiral, 40km south of Perth.
It is alleged his company, Admiral Holdings Pty Ltd, owes the landlord, Brocklebank Pty Ltd, more than $250,000 in unpaid rent, $136,000 in costs and expenses, $9000 in rates, $66,220 for painting, varnishing and wallpapering, $313,000 in damages, and nearly $53,000 in interest.
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The landlord ultimately repossessed the property and re-let it. It is now known as the Kwinana Local.
Scott could not be reached as of Monday night.
But his former co-director, Rory Vassallo, who is also named in the WA Supreme Court action, said: “I’ve got faith Chris will do the right thing.”
According to court documents, Scott and Mr Vassallo became directors of Admiral Holdings in December 2013. Mr Vassallo ceased being a director nine months later.
The company signed an agreement, the Tavern Lease, with Brocklebank in November 2011, before the pair became directors.
It is alleged the company was paying $400,000 a year in rent before Scott renegotiated the deal to $340,000 (exclusive of GST) in weekly instalments of $6500. It is alleged the company stopped paying rent in July 2016.
Written demands for payment were served in June 2017 before the property was repossessed by Brocklebank, according to court documents. Alleged breaches of the lease include a failure to properly maintain the property, which Brocklebank claims led to a $66,220 repair bill.
Mr Vassallo said on Monday night he was shocked when he learned of the action.
“I haven’t been a shareholder or director since the 18th of June, 2015,” he said.
“It’s a bit unfortunate, but in the eye of the law, I’m a shareholder.”
Mr Vassallo said he was confident Scott would settle a debt if it existed, or defend the action if it was not.
Mr Vassallo, who has known the Geelong coach since 2015, said he had been indemnified against such an action after ceasing his involvement in the business.
He said he had not set foot in the tavern since his time with Admiral ended.
“(Until then), we were fully compliant and not in breach of any conditions of that lease,” he said.
Weeks ago Scott secured a three-year extension to coach Geelong until the end of 2022. It will make him the club’s second-longest serving coach.
Scott, who was assistant coach at Fremantle, led Geelong to the 2011 flag in his first season, and the Cats have finished in the top four a further four times.
The case is set down for trial in Perth.