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ELECTION LATE NEWS SPECIAL Hilary Pistorius Barry GUILTY opens WORLD B1 her photo album NEWS & MAINLANDER YOUR WEEKEND Wealthy donor Cairns perjury trial may be year away wants to help Back on Christchurch the stand A sporting philanthropist from Russia with love – and millions of dollars.

Tony Smith 12ha blocks in December 2012 and would work within the New Zea- [email protected] ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● May 2013. Meyn said all land educational system. neighbours, except one, had signed Meyn is proposing a public- A Russian businessman is plan- a consent form supporting the private ownership model. An ning to build a massive $40 million development. estimated $24.5m of the total sport and education centre – More than 1000 car park spaces budget would come from private including a 50-metre pool – on the would be created. equity and investment, but he outskirts of Christchurch. One resident, who declined to would like the city council or gov- Slava Meyn, whose company is comment to The Press, has with- ernment agencies to commit $3.5m one of the largest meat processors held consent and the application to assist with infrastructure. in Russia’s far-east region, has will now go to a notified hearing. He has already paid $3.5m for already bought the 20-hectare Along with the 50m pool, the the land. Yaldhurst property – which is 7500sqm indoor multisport ‘‘I can’t build all this – I’m not a almost three times the area of the stadium would feature eight billionaire like [Roman] central city’s metro sports facili- indoor courts. He would also pro- Abramovich [the Russian oligarch ties site. vide the land for a 2000-5000sqm who owns English Premier League The sporting philanthropist is gymnastics centre to be funded by club Chelsea].’’ seeking resource consent for the a Christchurch gymnastics organ- Meyn is helping fund the con- first stage of the project – an $8m isation. struction of a traffic lights- privately-funded football academy Meyn also wants to partner controlled intersection to assist Sarah Harvey initial hearings as it could be up to Facing the music: Cairns investigation, I believe it is being ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● centre opposite the Masham-Noble with educational organisations to with traffic flow. a year until any trial goes ahead. will voluntarily fly to alleged that I am that player. These subdivision. create an academy similar to the Mainland Football chief execu- A London trial of The perjury charge relates to a England within the next allegations against me are a com- His application will be heard by Maribyrnong Sports Academy in tive Mike Coggan has written a let- could be more than a year away 2012 High Court libel trial in week and will be formally plete lie.’’ the Christchurch City Council on Melbourne, which he said had 800 ter of support, praising Meyn’s after the former Kiwi star London where Cairns won £90,000 charged next Thursday. Cairns, along with Vincent and September 25. pupils. ‘‘vision, goodwill and investment yesterday announced he and his (NZ$179,000) in damages and costs Photo: GETTY IMAGES Tuffey, was involved in the Meyn said his ultimate goal was A memorandum of in this facility’’. former lawyer are to be charged against Lalit Modi, the former boss Chandigarh Lions team as part of finding joint venture partners to understanding had There had been a mass- with perjury. of the . the ICL. Cairns left the T20 league create a 50-metre swimming pool, been signed with ive loss of sports facilities Speaking exclusively to Fairfax The New Zealander brought the in 2008 and was said to be injured. gymnastics centre and indoor Christ’s College, he in Christchurch because Media, Cairns said he was case after Modi took to Twitter and In July this year, Vincent was sports stadium. said, and state school of the earthquakes and informed around noon yesterday alleged Cairns had been expelled banned from cricket for life by the ‘‘We are going to build a new involvement would Meyn’s ‘‘financial gener- of the intention by England’s from the now-defunct Indian England and Wales Cricket board Christchurch sports centre and also be sought. osity is unparalleled and Crown Prosecution Service to lay Cricket League (ICL) because of after admitting he accepted £40,000 academy that is unique for New The programme his vision to meet facility charges against him and said he match-fixing. (NZ$79,142) to fix matches while Zealand,’’ he said. would be co-educational need unrivalled’’, he said. would ‘‘do whatever it takes to It is understood the charge I’ll do playing for Sussex in 2011. He also Meyn, who moved to Christ- – ‘‘as we want to fight to once again prove my inno- relates to statements Cairns made what- confessed to fixing as a Lancashire church in 2009, has formed the encourage both Read more cence’’. in his case against Modi, during player in 2008. ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● ever it takes Christchurch Football Academy boys and girls to ❯❯❯❯ Passion for It is understood his former law- which he repeatedly said he had Cairns would not talk in detail Charitable Trust. participate in yer and friend, barrister Andrew not been involved in but has previously said that any football D4 to fight to His main motivation was pro- the sports and Fitch-Holland, will also face a at any point in his career. formal charges against him would viding state-of-the-art sporting activities’’ – charge of perjury. Fairfax understands Cairns’ once again allow him to put the ICC’s match- facilities in earthquake-ravaged and it The maximum penalty for per- wife, Mel, and former ICL team fixing investigations under the Christchurch and giving the city’s jury in the United Kingdom for a mate , who gave prove my spotlight in a court of law. young sportspeople top quality charge brought by the CPS is affidavits in the Modi case, are not innocence. In May this year he said: ‘‘I training and performance seven years imprisonment. facing any perjury charges. Chris Cairns believe there are dark forces at opportunities, he said. ‘‘We see it In a statement, Cairns said: ‘‘I Current Black Caps play. These forces have long arms, as complementary, not competing can confirm that I have now been Brendon McCullum, who has deep pockets and great influence. I with Nga Puna Wai [the proposed notified by the Crown Prosecution testified to the International acknowledge that recently I have council sporting hub] and the Service in the UK that it is their Cricket Council (ICC) that a upset some powerful people in the metro sports facilities complex intention to lay charges against me player, dubbed ‘‘Player X’’, was world of cricket, including raising because we are more about high- on 25 September for perjury.’’ involved in match-fixing, could be my own concerns about the health quality coaching programmes.’’ Cairns said he would volun- called to give evidence. Cairns has of the game. I believe I am paying The football facility would fea- tarily fly to England within the said that he believes he is the the price for that now.’’ ture a sand-based natural turf next week and will, along with player McCullum is referring to Cairns said yesterday he was pitch and grandstand, two full- Fitch-Holland, be formally charged but refutes the claims. ‘‘extremely disappointed’’ at being sized synthetic turf fields with next Thursday. In May he said: ‘‘I am aware charged but now had ‘‘an oppor- floodlights, six synthetic mini- It is likely Cairns will face a that former Black Caps cricketer tunity to face my accusers in an pitches and a 2000sqm clubrooms first hearing in a Magistrates and current New Zea- open forum, with some rigour and facility with eight changing rooms, Court, about a week after being land captain Brendon McCullum proper process around that, so that offices and a cafe. charged and will then have a pre- have made a range of allegations I can clear my name once and for The land was bought in 8ha and liminary hearing in the Crown against a cricketer dubbed Player all.’’ Court. It is understood Cairns will X. Based on the limited infor- Benefactor: Slava Meyn, at his return to New Zealand after the mation I have received during this ❯❯❯❯ Continued on A2 football academy in Yaldhurst. Photo: KIRK HARGREAVES/FAIRFAX NZ

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