ALLAN Endresz has given anassurance his sponsorship of North Albury Football Club is secure despite his company’s setback in the ACT Supreme Court yesterday.
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Mr Endresz said he was still confident of winning a multi-billion dollar legal fight with the federal government, even after the court threw out the claim.
North Albury coach Jason Akermanis works for Mr Endresz’s company Ezybonds, a major backer of the Hoppers.
Mr Endresz played a major role in bringing the triple Brisbane premiership player and Brownlow medallist to the Ovens and Murray league this season.
He denied yesterday’s court finding would lead to a similar scenario when CTC Resources, a company of which he was a director, couldn’t honour sponsorship deals with the Bandits basketball team and Lauren Jackson in the early 2000s.
“We’ve had that locked down and separate,” he said.
“We are not going down that road again where someone can wake up and freeze your assets.
“We’ve learnt the hard way on that one.”
Mr Endresz was part of a $4.3 billion claim against the federal government, which finally had its day in a Canberra court yesterday.
Justice Richard Refshauge delivered his decision in favour of the Commonwealth.
The long-running fight began after the government attempted to recover about $8.725 million of taxpayers’ funds transferred illegally to two companies connected to Davis Samuel Corporate Advisory Services in 1998.
Justice Refshauge rejected the $4.3 billion counter-claim after finding the original $8.725 million payment was void and illegal.
Mr Endresz said he wasn’t shocked by the court ruling.
“I thought we would lose and the judge would be looking for a way to wriggle his way out and handball onto a higher court,” he said.
“We are chasing the big dollars, as you know.
“My focus is on behalf of the family and shareholders.
“We want a massive settlement and $4 billion is serious stuff.
“We will have a win whether it be in the next round or the High Court.”
Mr Endresz said he had 28 days to launch an appeal to the ACT Supreme Court of Appeal, made up of three judges and an application to the High Court was also pending.
“Certainly the grounds are there, there is no question about that,” he said.
“We are very comfortable with the foundation we’ve laid.”
