Former Melbourne Rebels boss lost his business and family home

Paul Docherty, who once ran a prominent rugby union club, has been dealt two major financial blows as he remains locked in a $30 million court fight.

Melbourne Rebels former chairman Paul Docherty has been dealt two major financial blows. Picture: Supplied

EXCLUSIVE: Melbourne Rebels former chairman Paul Docherty has been dealt two major financial blows, with the liquidation of one of his companies and the sale of his family home.

The Victorian Supreme Court placed his company BRC Group Pty Ltd into liquidation last week after a dispute over a $1 million debt.

It cames as the home that the former Young Presidents’ Organisation Australia president shared with his family was sold for about $2.5 million last week.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has listed the BRC liquidation notice on its website.

Glenn Crisp, or Jirsch Sutherland, was appointed as liquidator to tie up the company’s affairs.

The company was part of a wider group of BRC companies that collapsed with debts of up to $70 million.

It was unclear whether BRC Group liquidation would impact a multi million property deal in Melbourne’s north, which included members of some of Australia’s wealthiest families.

Paul Docherty and his wife Georgina at a YPO event in Sydney.

Mr Docherty’s family home was in the name of his wife Georgina, for which she paid $1.4 million in December 2012.

The four-bedroom home was presented as a stunning purchase for families in its real estate advertising.

“Daily life revolves around the spacious north-facing family/dining zone and chef-friendly kitchen where an island bench becomes a natural gathering spot,” the advertisement stated.

“Sliding doors connect to a covered deck designed for year-round enjoyment, with a pristine pool ready for summer fun.”

The home in Melbourne’s leafy inner eastern suburb of Camberwell was sold on April 29 for almost double the figure that Mrs Docherty paid.

However, there had been a caveat put on the property which meant that some of the proceeds may not be directed to Mrs Docherty.

The financial hits come as Mr Docherty remains locked in a $30 million legal battle against Rugby Australia over who was responsible for the collapsed club’s debts.

The directors of the club, including Mr Docherty, Georgia Widdup, daughter of former Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford, businesswoman Lyndsey Cattermole and lawyer Tim North, KC, are also fighting the Australian Taxation Office over director penalty notices.

Those ATO notices make them liable for a $7.8 million tax debt.

Mr Docherty has an interest in a prime block of land near the new Arden station on the soon to be opened Melbourne metro. Picture: Stephen Drill.

Rugby Australia folded the Melbourne Rebels in May last year, with a PwC report stating that the club may have been trading insolvent for up to five years.

The club had struggled to make a profit while playing games at AAMI Park, losing at least $50,000 every home game.

Rugby Australia chair Daniel Herbert said he was “very disappointed” in the Rebels board when announcing the club’s demise last year.

“I think they have let rugby stakeholders down in Victoria and rugby stakeholders more broadly,” Mr Herbert said.

“There’s been tens of millions of dollars that has been spent on this franchise over and above other Super Rugby clubs, and (now its) to be $23 million in debt again.”

Mr Docherty was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Former Melbourne Rebels boss lost his business and family home