Pies star’s $3m legal move may trigger huge debt fallout
Scott Pendlebury’s legal claim against his former manager, who he has accused of owing him up to $3 million, could have major repercussions for the investments of a string of sports stars.
Jeremy Cameron and Will Ashcroft are represented by a company owned by a businessman accused of misappropriating $3m from Scott Pendlebury.
Jason Sourasis is a shareholder and director in Hemisphere Management Group (HMG), which represents the Geelong forward and Brisbane star.
Mr Sourasis is defending claims from Pendlebury, first reported by the Herald Sun, that he transferred more than $2.1 million out of his bank account without his knowledge in a Victorian Supreme Court civil claim.
The Collingwood star also claimed that Mr Sourasis borrowed $300,000 from him at 50 per cent interest in 2023, with his total claim hitting almost $3 million.
Mr Sourasis stepped down as executive chairman after the club, based in Melbourne’s western suburbs, was plunged into a financial crisis.
Hemisphere Talent Management and Mr Sourasis did not return calls on Wednesday.
There is no suggestion that Cameron or Ashcroft had invested in Western United.
However, sources have confirmed that Kangaroos stars Jack Ziebell and Jy Simpkin, tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis and NBA star Dante Exum were all knowing investors in the Western United team.
Mr Sourasis had sold a dream about Western United, including plans for a privately-owned soccer stadium for up to 20,000 fans.
However, he was not involved in a meeting with the Wyndham City Council on Tuesday night to discuss those plans.
Mark Rossiter, director of corporate services at Wyndham City Council, said: “Land earmarked for the Wyndham Stadium Precinct, including Ironbark Fields, is owned entirely by Wyndham City Council. There is no risk to Wyndham City ratepayers.
“Wyndham City is currently considering viable solutions for the site that will be benefit the community.”
Western United has been forced to sit out this A-League season after a $100m deal with American investor KAM Sports to secure its future fell over in August.
The club has debts of more than $55 million, despite winning the A-League championship in 2022.
Questions are now being raised about how Mr Sourasis will pay back his creditors, including the ATO, and his sports star investors, who are not accused of any wrongdoing.
He has been hit with Director Penalty Notices, which seek to make him personally liable for the ATO debts linked to companies behind the Western United.
Mr Sourasis has “vehemently denied” Pendlebury’s claims and was understood to have been working to find a new deal with Western United investor Johnson Controls to pay out the tax office.
Western United has won a stay on the loss of its licence from the A-League, with hopes that the club can proceed with land deals around a proposed stadium.
Separately, Ozzie Kheir, who part-owned the 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, was also an investor with Mr Sourasis in a development at Seaford.
Mr Kheir said he was owed “millions” from a childcare development with Mr Sourasis.
“I’ve known Jason for a long time, but haven’t had any business dealings for five or six years,” he said.
“I’m expecting him to make good on his debts at some point in the future.”
Mr Kheir played football at Coburg in the VFA in the same era as Mr Sourasis.
He also owns Cox Plate runner Buckaroo, and this year’s Melbourne Cup runner Valliant King, as well as Birdman, which is also part-owned by retired Carlton player Marc Murphy.
Mr Sourasis, who was a prominent AFL agent, also owns a wine business with Pendlebury.
Elite Estate Wines leans heavily on its AFL links, with drops named after the Collingwood star.
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield, Collingwood stars Darcy Moore and Steele Sidebottom, Adelaide’s Taylor Walker, and Carlton’s Patrick Cripps have wines named after them by the company.
Some of the wines sell for $179 each, with limited edition vintages linked to the players’ career milestones.
