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06-04-2009, 10:46 AM
THE reasons that provoked former rugby league star Ben Ikin to storm out of his Nine Network commentator's role over A Current Affair expose of his father's business dealings have been revealed.
Nine's A Current Affair ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) program was preparing to reveal that his father's company had been put into liquidation, owing investors more than $10million.
The Daily Telegraph Online ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) reported exclusively yesterday that Ikin stormed out as the news program was preparing to air the report on his father - only hours before he was due to have a commentating role for the network's coverage of the Styate of Origin game. Full coverage: NSW-Queensland State of Origin game ([Only registered and activated users can see links])
The Australian ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) reports today that a spokesman for Alan Ikin's Try and Move It, Gold Coast insolvency accountant Paul Scott, told The Australian ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) last night investors in the Townsville, Toowoomba and Gold Coast branches of the business "appear to have lost all their funds".
"Mr Ikin senior ran into financial difficulty after failing to secure further bank loans to complete the building projects," Mr Scott said.
Mr Scott said Ben Ikin had no direct or indirect involvement with his father's business affairs.
Nick Combis, the liquidator appointed to Try and Move It, said last night: "Total creditors owed by all companies in the Ikin group total in excess of $10million."
The Daily Telegraph Online ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) can reveal a furious Ikin phoned Nines director of sport Steve Crawley early yesterday afternoon to resign from all his commentary duties.
Ikin is the second member of Nine's commentary team to be missing last night following the standing down of colleague Matthew Johns ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) last month after the NRL group sex scandal.
Ikin, who is the son-in-law of super coach Wayne Bennett, had been a commentator on Nine for several years and is highly regarded by station management.
Alan Ikin, Ben Ikin's father, last night listened to a radio call of the State of Origin, refusing to watch the Channel 9 coverage his son had just walked away from.
"Ben has resigned as a matter of principle," Alan Ikin told the Gold Coast Bulletin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).
"He felt there was no way in the world that they (Channel 9) were going to hang his father out to dry and expect him to continue on.
"The Ikin family stands on principle. My son has made a stand for me and what sort of a person would I be to tune in to the ... station he has resigned from?
"You don't get a more passionate Queenslander than me, but I will be listening to the game on ABC."
Mr Ikin confirmed the business he had built up over 30 years was gone.
"I am broke, bust. I have lost my home," he said.
"At the end of June I will start work driving a truck from midnight to 9am. My wife (Carmel) has gone back to work and I am driving my son's (Ben's) car.
"I am living in a unit and the rent is being paid by friends and associates," said Mr Ikin, who added that his focus was on re-launching into the business world and paying back 'every cent' to the people who had backed him.
"I am not walking away from this," he said. "I will work until the day I die to make sure everyone gets their money back and I am 100 per cent sure they will get their money back."
SEEMS nobody is safe these days.,
First Mathew Johns , now Ben Ikin.
Any little adversity these days, and these personalities automatically quit.
Nine's A Current Affair ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) program was preparing to reveal that his father's company had been put into liquidation, owing investors more than $10million.
The Daily Telegraph Online ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) reported exclusively yesterday that Ikin stormed out as the news program was preparing to air the report on his father - only hours before he was due to have a commentating role for the network's coverage of the Styate of Origin game. Full coverage: NSW-Queensland State of Origin game ([Only registered and activated users can see links])
The Australian ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) reports today that a spokesman for Alan Ikin's Try and Move It, Gold Coast insolvency accountant Paul Scott, told The Australian ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) last night investors in the Townsville, Toowoomba and Gold Coast branches of the business "appear to have lost all their funds".
"Mr Ikin senior ran into financial difficulty after failing to secure further bank loans to complete the building projects," Mr Scott said.
Mr Scott said Ben Ikin had no direct or indirect involvement with his father's business affairs.
Nick Combis, the liquidator appointed to Try and Move It, said last night: "Total creditors owed by all companies in the Ikin group total in excess of $10million."
The Daily Telegraph Online ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) can reveal a furious Ikin phoned Nines director of sport Steve Crawley early yesterday afternoon to resign from all his commentary duties.
Ikin is the second member of Nine's commentary team to be missing last night following the standing down of colleague Matthew Johns ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) last month after the NRL group sex scandal.
Ikin, who is the son-in-law of super coach Wayne Bennett, had been a commentator on Nine for several years and is highly regarded by station management.
Alan Ikin, Ben Ikin's father, last night listened to a radio call of the State of Origin, refusing to watch the Channel 9 coverage his son had just walked away from.
"Ben has resigned as a matter of principle," Alan Ikin told the Gold Coast Bulletin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).
"He felt there was no way in the world that they (Channel 9) were going to hang his father out to dry and expect him to continue on.
"The Ikin family stands on principle. My son has made a stand for me and what sort of a person would I be to tune in to the ... station he has resigned from?
"You don't get a more passionate Queenslander than me, but I will be listening to the game on ABC."
Mr Ikin confirmed the business he had built up over 30 years was gone.
"I am broke, bust. I have lost my home," he said.
"At the end of June I will start work driving a truck from midnight to 9am. My wife (Carmel) has gone back to work and I am driving my son's (Ben's) car.
"I am living in a unit and the rent is being paid by friends and associates," said Mr Ikin, who added that his focus was on re-launching into the business world and paying back 'every cent' to the people who had backed him.
"I am not walking away from this," he said. "I will work until the day I die to make sure everyone gets their money back and I am 100 per cent sure they will get their money back."
SEEMS nobody is safe these days.,
First Mathew Johns , now Ben Ikin.
Any little adversity these days, and these personalities automatically quit.