Bluey
10-06-2009, 08:15 PM
Olympian Craig Mottram has done a runner on a $150,000 debt, high-profile athletics coach Nic Bideau claims.
Bideau is suing his talented former client in the County Court over the alleged liability.
It's not the first legal wrangle between the coach and a former charge: Bideau launched a bitter fight with protege Cathy Freeman before the Sydney Olympics.
Distance runner Mottram and Bideau - regarded as one of the most successful partnerships in Australian athletics - parted late last year.
That followed Mottram's shock failure to make the Beijing Olympics 5000m final after a tactical blunder in the heats.
Documents filed with the County Court last week allege Mottram owes Bideau about $150,000 over a 2007 property deal.
The writ claims the runner's company, Buster Mottram Pty Ltd, agreed to buy a London townhouse from Bideau Sport Enterprises Pty Ltd.
The property, in leafy Hampton Hill, was valued at $1.2 million at the time of the alleged deal. Documents lodged in court allege Mottram agreed to take over the loan on the property and pay Bideau about $320,000 by September 5, 2007.
The balance - a further $150,000 - was to be paid by December 31, 2007, the documents allege.
"(Mottram) informed the second plaintiff that he would use his best endeavors to pay the balance within a reasonable period," the writ claims.
Bideau claims the money is still outstanding despite subsequent demands for Mottram to pay up.
"The plaintiffs claim the sum of $152,400 and interest at the penalty rate from February 6, 2007," the writ says.
Mottram said last night he had indicated to Bideau months ago that he wanted to reach a settlement.
"We simply disagree over the amount. That is why this matter isn't resolved," he said.
London-based Bideau did not respond to calls.
Lawyers for Bideau lodged the writ on June 2. It has not yet been served on Mottram.
Mottram, a contender for the London Olympics in 2012, has recently been seen scouting for luxury homes in Melbourne's inner east.
He is training to compete at next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but is battling achilles problems.
Bideau was Mottram's coach for more then a decade.
Highlights of their partnership included a World Championships bronze medal in 2005, a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2006 and two World Cup victories.
Mottram said at the time of his split last October with Bideau that the parting was "completely amicable".
"Nic has been great throughout my career but it was the right time for change," he said.
:)
Bideau is suing his talented former client in the County Court over the alleged liability.
It's not the first legal wrangle between the coach and a former charge: Bideau launched a bitter fight with protege Cathy Freeman before the Sydney Olympics.
Distance runner Mottram and Bideau - regarded as one of the most successful partnerships in Australian athletics - parted late last year.
That followed Mottram's shock failure to make the Beijing Olympics 5000m final after a tactical blunder in the heats.
Documents filed with the County Court last week allege Mottram owes Bideau about $150,000 over a 2007 property deal.
The writ claims the runner's company, Buster Mottram Pty Ltd, agreed to buy a London townhouse from Bideau Sport Enterprises Pty Ltd.
The property, in leafy Hampton Hill, was valued at $1.2 million at the time of the alleged deal. Documents lodged in court allege Mottram agreed to take over the loan on the property and pay Bideau about $320,000 by September 5, 2007.
The balance - a further $150,000 - was to be paid by December 31, 2007, the documents allege.
"(Mottram) informed the second plaintiff that he would use his best endeavors to pay the balance within a reasonable period," the writ claims.
Bideau claims the money is still outstanding despite subsequent demands for Mottram to pay up.
"The plaintiffs claim the sum of $152,400 and interest at the penalty rate from February 6, 2007," the writ says.
Mottram said last night he had indicated to Bideau months ago that he wanted to reach a settlement.
"We simply disagree over the amount. That is why this matter isn't resolved," he said.
London-based Bideau did not respond to calls.
Lawyers for Bideau lodged the writ on June 2. It has not yet been served on Mottram.
Mottram, a contender for the London Olympics in 2012, has recently been seen scouting for luxury homes in Melbourne's inner east.
He is training to compete at next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but is battling achilles problems.
Bideau was Mottram's coach for more then a decade.
Highlights of their partnership included a World Championships bronze medal in 2005, a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2006 and two World Cup victories.
Mottram said at the time of his split last October with Bideau that the parting was "completely amicable".
"Nic has been great throughout my career but it was the right time for change," he said.
:)