Serepisos says he's got a surprise for Monday
Embattled Wellington developer Terry Serepisos insists he wasn't pushed from the Phoenix, and says he'll surprise everyone at his bankruptcy hearing on Monday.
At a press conference held shortly after it was announced Terry Serepisos had lost the licence to the Wellington Phoenix football team, the embattled developer insisted he would fight on.
"I don't believe I'll end up bankrupt. I'm going to surprise people," he said in his offices this afternoon.
Mr Serepisos faces a bankrputcy hearing in the High Court in Wellington on Monday.
"I'll put it to bed next week," he said of the hearing.
Mr Serepisos said he was sad to lose control of the Wellington Phoenix, but he felt humbled and proud about what he had achieved during his four years at the helm.
He estimated those four years cost him between $8 million and $10 million on the club.
The decision to relinquish control of the club was his, rather than Football Federation Australia's, he said.
"There were no forced hands here.
"I made a decision that I've got my own life to sort out first."
Having put the Phoenix first for many years, it was time to be honest with himself and move forward, Mr Serepisos said.
Although he insisted he was not bitter about Welnix consortium now owning what was until this week his A-League licence, Mr Serepisos said the whole episode could have been handled differently.
The consortium had not spoken to him about it, he said, while neither the Wellington City Council or other groups that had been mentioned as possible backers in the past had stepped forward.
"But we're here now and I have to move on to the next chapter in my life," Mr Serepisos said.
However, he was confident the Welnix group would do a good job and that the club was in safe hands.
His involvement with the Phoenix was never about money, he said.
"I'm not interested in the money that I've lost [on the Phoenix]. There's no greater pleasure than putting smiles on kids' faces."
"Pretty much" all players and staff were up-to-date with their pay, he said, although there was a changeover period to be worked through with the new licence holders.
However, he would not hold up the process.
Colin Williscroft and Matt Nippert
Fri, 23 Sep 2011
Fri, 23 Sep 2011
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Serepisos says he's got a surprise for Monday
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