FFC Mariner
Well-Known Member
Surprised this isnt getting a run.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/mcgurk-murder-mystery-widens-20090907-fd0y.html
McGurk murder mystery widens
JACQUELIN MAGNAY
September 7, 2009
THE captain of the Socceroos, Lucas Neill, and the former NSW planning minister Craig Knowles, have been caught up in the aftermath of the murder of Sydney bagman Michael McGurk.
Mr McGurk had been approached to be a behind-the-scenes financial middleman for an $8 million bid for a Western Sydney A-League team fronted by Neill. Mr Knowles is the chairman of the team, known informally as the Sydney Wanderers.
The news comes as another Western Sydney A-League proposal - headed by the businessman Joe Meissner, collapsed - putting the Football Federation of Australia's plans for a second Sydney team for next year under pressure. In recent months Mr Knowles had been seeking extra business investment for the Wanderers proposal.
Mr McGurk had numerous meetings with Neill's manager and business partner, Paddy Dominguez, late last year and at one point met Neill and the radio announcer Alan Jones.
Last night Mr Dominguez said Mr McGurk's murder would have no impact on the bid, now before the FFA for consideration.
''There is no tie here. Mr McGurk was not a shareholder or an investor. He was somebody we did speak to because we knew he manages money and has very big clients. We put our proposal to him and he spoke to people, but in the end they weren't interested [in investing in the Sydney Wanderers],'' Mr Dominguez said.
''Separate to that, Lucas Neill funds the A-League bid. There are no other investors, no one else. Lucas is the man behind the bid. He is the face of the bid and he is the one who provides the funds for the bid - no one else.''
Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show the company, Sydney Wanderers Football Club, was registered last November with Mr Dominguez and Neill as directors. The registered office and principal place of business is Bentley Smythe in York Street.
Bentley Smythe was the last-resort loan business owned by Mr McGurk. It is believed he was not putting in much of his own money but rather acting as a very interested middleman, using his company to gain financial support from other soccer-keen investors.
But Mr Dominguez said the fact that the Wanderers company was registered at Mr McGurk's office was ''nothing to do with Mr McGurk as an individual''. He said: ''There is a very simple explanation. He rented out office space and I will clarify it for you at a right and appropriate time.''
This year Neill, 31, said he wanted to be the Sydney Wanderers' marquee player, to give back to the sport. He is negotiating with overseas clubs Atletico Madrid and Sunderland for his next contract.
Neill said: "When I'm back in Australia, I want to be giving back as much as I can to the game in the hope that it brings other players on to play for the Socceroos as well as maybe keeping myself involved.''
Mr McGurk's murder came a day after the Western Sydney A League team proposal by Mr Meissner collapsed on Wednesday. Mr Meissner was supposed to supply financial details to the Football Federation but the bid's chairman, the marketing executive Ian Rowden, officially told it that the proof of working capital of about $6 million would not be forthcoming. At the same time he withdrew from his role as chairman of the bid.
Mr Meissner has had a colourful past, being a former world karate champion and professional poker player. But it was his connections to the NSW Labor Party and his convictions for assault and the theft of machine-guns that raised eyebrows. Mr Meissner's boat, Kanzen, became known as the ''Love Boat'' when politicians and organised crime figures consorted with a prostitute on it more than 20 years ago.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/mcgurk-murder-mystery-widens-20090907-fd0y.html
McGurk murder mystery widens
JACQUELIN MAGNAY
September 7, 2009
THE captain of the Socceroos, Lucas Neill, and the former NSW planning minister Craig Knowles, have been caught up in the aftermath of the murder of Sydney bagman Michael McGurk.
Mr McGurk had been approached to be a behind-the-scenes financial middleman for an $8 million bid for a Western Sydney A-League team fronted by Neill. Mr Knowles is the chairman of the team, known informally as the Sydney Wanderers.
The news comes as another Western Sydney A-League proposal - headed by the businessman Joe Meissner, collapsed - putting the Football Federation of Australia's plans for a second Sydney team for next year under pressure. In recent months Mr Knowles had been seeking extra business investment for the Wanderers proposal.
Mr McGurk had numerous meetings with Neill's manager and business partner, Paddy Dominguez, late last year and at one point met Neill and the radio announcer Alan Jones.
Last night Mr Dominguez said Mr McGurk's murder would have no impact on the bid, now before the FFA for consideration.
''There is no tie here. Mr McGurk was not a shareholder or an investor. He was somebody we did speak to because we knew he manages money and has very big clients. We put our proposal to him and he spoke to people, but in the end they weren't interested [in investing in the Sydney Wanderers],'' Mr Dominguez said.
''Separate to that, Lucas Neill funds the A-League bid. There are no other investors, no one else. Lucas is the man behind the bid. He is the face of the bid and he is the one who provides the funds for the bid - no one else.''
Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show the company, Sydney Wanderers Football Club, was registered last November with Mr Dominguez and Neill as directors. The registered office and principal place of business is Bentley Smythe in York Street.
Bentley Smythe was the last-resort loan business owned by Mr McGurk. It is believed he was not putting in much of his own money but rather acting as a very interested middleman, using his company to gain financial support from other soccer-keen investors.
But Mr Dominguez said the fact that the Wanderers company was registered at Mr McGurk's office was ''nothing to do with Mr McGurk as an individual''. He said: ''There is a very simple explanation. He rented out office space and I will clarify it for you at a right and appropriate time.''
This year Neill, 31, said he wanted to be the Sydney Wanderers' marquee player, to give back to the sport. He is negotiating with overseas clubs Atletico Madrid and Sunderland for his next contract.
Neill said: "When I'm back in Australia, I want to be giving back as much as I can to the game in the hope that it brings other players on to play for the Socceroos as well as maybe keeping myself involved.''
Mr McGurk's murder came a day after the Western Sydney A League team proposal by Mr Meissner collapsed on Wednesday. Mr Meissner was supposed to supply financial details to the Football Federation but the bid's chairman, the marketing executive Ian Rowden, officially told it that the proof of working capital of about $6 million would not be forthcoming. At the same time he withdrew from his role as chairman of the bid.
Mr Meissner has had a colourful past, being a former world karate champion and professional poker player. But it was his connections to the NSW Labor Party and his convictions for assault and the theft of machine-guns that raised eyebrows. Mr Meissner's boat, Kanzen, became known as the ''Love Boat'' when politicians and organised crime figures consorted with a prostitute on it more than 20 years ago.
) So reckon its all connected. Ooooh. I feel for his poor kid though 
