Bungan Beach
RENOWNED sports physiotherapist Errol Alcott is in strife with the Tax Office after failing to pay outstanding tax bills of more than $200,000. Alcott was the chief physiotherapist for the Australian cricket team for more than two decades before joining South Sydney's staff. He left the Rabbitohs in 2011. Court documents show the Australian Tax Office applied for a winding up of Errol Alcott Professional Services Pty Ltd in August last year after a statutory demand for $210,447 went unpaid. Sydney Insolvency News, which is also covering the story on its website insolvencynews.com.au, spoke to Alcott about the developments. Alcott said he was in the process of moving out of the property he had been living in and had engaged a family law specialist to deal with the matter. SiN also reports that a statement of the affairs of the company lodged on November 22 showed total debts of $497,088 against cash at hand of $129.33. Alcott took time off from his cricketing commitments in 2004 to help Russell Crowe prepare for his role in the movie Cinderella Man.
LAB BACKS MANLY
MANLY'S major sponsor, Kaspersky, has thrown its support behind the club following the Australian Crime Commission's report into the integrity of sport. The Sea Eagles have been the focus of much of the media scrutiny due to their links to Stephen Dank, the sports science guru employed by the club from 2006 to 2010. While NRL naming rights sponsor Telstra has threatened to pull its backing of Australian sport, the Russian-based multinational company is standing firm. ''We've got full confidence in Manly having everything above board,'' said Andrew Mamonitis, the managing director of Kaspersky Lab for Australia and New Zealand. ''They're confident, and we're confident, that they've followed all of the right procedures and protocols and that there won't be any issues as a result.'' The NRL has commissioned accountancy firm Deloitte to audit Manly's sports science department, while other NRL clubs have also been raided. However, Mamonitis is confident the computer anti-virus company will see out its three-year contract. ''Obviously we are as concerned as anyone else with some of the allegations that have come out,'' he said. ''But we don't believe there are any allegations against Manly as such. We're closely watching the situation and if things change it could be a serious issue. However, we have full confidence in Manly and don't think there are any issues there.'' The company previously sponsored AFL club Melbourne and last year was a coach's sponsor of Collingwood.
MATEO IN DEMAND FELETI MATEO is off contract at the end of the year but is already a wanted man. We can reveal St George Illawarra are keen on the Warriors playmaker, who played in Saturday night's All Stars game. Mateo is settled across the ditch, having recently married, but would consider a return to Sydney. The Dragons are desperate to bolster their playmaking stocks following the retirement of Ben Hornby.
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MATEO IN DEMAND
FELETI MATEO is off contract at the end of the year but is already a wanted man. We can reveal St George Illawarra are keen on the Warriors playmaker, who played in Saturday night's All Stars game. Mateo is settled across the ditch, having recently married, but would consider a return to Sydney. The Dragons are desperate to bolster their playmaking stocks following the retirement of Ben Hornby.
CRUEL TIMING
THE Australian Crime Commission's briefing was terrible timing for the NRL. The ARLC had planned to unveil their new advertising campaign on Thursday in the hope of providing the code with some positive publicity before the All Stars clash. However, officials shelved the release - which is sans Bon Jovi - knowing all the attention was on drug and match-fixing dramas.
TAHU TO WARRIORS?
THE mail from across the Tasman is that Warriors coach Matthew Elliott is keen to sign Timana Tahu if he doesn't remain in Newcastle. Tahu, a dual international, is off contract at the end of the year. Elliott threw the 32-year-old a lifeline when coaching Penrith and while injuries limited Tahu's appearances at the Panthers, the pair remain close.
RING MASTERS
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS isn't the only Rooster stepping into the boxing ring. Willis Meehan, pictured, the son of former Australian heavyweight champion Kali Meehan, is representing NSW as a super-heavyweight at the national titles in Adelaide this week. Willis, an Australian Schoolboys utility, is only 17 but already tips the scales at 108 kilograms. Older brother Louis, 19, is also a boxer and in the Roosters system. When not at footy training they can be found at the Legend's Gym at Kensington. ''I never really encouraged them to box because it takes a lot of sacrifice,'' Kali Meehan said. ''But from when they were young, most days of the week they always sparred together.''
SPRAY ADDS TO WOE
WE REPORTED last week that Manly Leagues Club again posted significant losses. Further to that item, long-term chief executive Peter Spray resigned during the week.
LIGHTER MOMENT
THE lack of detail in the Australian Crime Commission's report - particularly the decision not to name names or teams - has cast a pall over every Australian athlete. However, some have managed to retain their sense of humour. Upon the completion of a training session, Wests Tigers funnyman Liam Fulton said, loud enough for an amused media scrum to hear: ''C'mon boys, now let's go out and get some calves' blood into us.''
SHARK TALE
A group of promising young African cricketers have put on a team uniform for the first time courtesy of a generous donation from De La Salle Caringbah junior rugby league football. The boys now wear the same colours previously worn by the likes of Andrew Ettingshausen, Aaron Raper and Jonathan Docking. The initiative was the brainchild of player Dean Hodges.
RADIO STAR RAPER
THE present referees' boss will be replaced by the former one on the ABC's league commentary team for the coming season. Daniel Anderson will no longer be calling or analysing games for ''Aunty'' after taking charge of the whistleblowers, with Stuart Raper one of the new voices you'll hear through the winter. Other changes include the addition of former Canterbury captain Andrew Ryan, along with former Dragons playmaker Matt Head, Newcastle favourite Adam MacDougall and cult hero Mark Riddell. ''He's the thinking woman's sex symbol,'' ABC Grandstand manager Craig Norenbergs said of Riddell. Popular stalwarts Warren Ryan and David Morrow will remain the mainstays of the team.
EELS TARGET SCOTT
WE HEAR that the chances of Matt Scott leaving North Queensland grow stronger by the day. The Queensland and Australian forward is being hunted by several clubs but the long-term offer Parramatta have tabled could be too hard to beat.
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