Serepisos Lord of the Beautiful Game?

Terry Serepisos says people don't realise all the good work he has done. Photo / Getty Images

Embattled entrepreneur Terry Serepisos believes his $5million investment in New Zealand football deserves to be ranked alongside the success of legendary director Sir Peter Jackson.

Speaking on the eve of the All White's historic appearance at the World Cup, the self-styled "Mr Football" says he has left a King Kong-sized footprint on the team's achievements.

"What Peter Jackson has done with movies, I have done with football," he said.

The Apprentice host revealed he had been severely stung by criticism over his $2m rates row with Wellington City Council, saying he did not deserve to be singled out.

He said: "I am owed millions. A movie called Kingdom Come booked the whole of my hotel in Tory St [Century City] - they owe me $450,000.

"So people don't know that I am owed millions but I don't sit there and go on. It is the nature of the game. I do not deserve the negative press I have had. I feel a little disheartened and a little disgusted for someone who has given a lot to the community."

Revelations about Serepisos's unpaid rates emerged in the middle of The Apprentice, making some of the unforgiving advice he dished out to contestants fall flat.

The property tycoon sold one of his Ferrari convertible sports cars as the deadline to pay the rates bill approached.

It also emerged earlier this year that his brother was convicted for a string of serious drug offences, including supplying methamphetamine.

Then a string of contractors claimed Serepisos owed more than $200,000 for unpaid work on his hotel in Tory St.

But Serepisos hit back at some of the claims, and accused the contractors of being in the wrong.

"Being attacked like that? Is that the way they meant to do it. One of the subcontractors had a $20m contract, but he made a mistake on the air conditioning.

"So I held back $60,000 and then he is on the TV [complaining].

"Playing your rates late doesn't mean you have financial woes does it?

"ASB has given me $900,000 to pay the council, which means they believe in me - why shouldn't they?

"I have been with them for 15 years. So I paid my rates late, I can think of tons of people who have done that but it's only because it's me. I am fine and so is the club.

"I had one person come up to me and say 'Hey you're an arsehole because you didn't pay your rates mate'."

The tycoon, who owns the Wellington Phoenix, believes he hasn't been given enough credit for his part in the All Whites' stunning run to the World Cup finals.

He claims he has resurrected "the Beautiful Game" in a rugby-obsessed country and delivered one of the feel-good sporting successes of the past year with the Phoenix's run to the cusp of a grand final appearance in the A-League.

"If it wasn't for me there wouldn't be any Phoenix because I created it. I started it from a piece of paper, from the licence that used to be in Auckland."

Serepisos also claims his charity work doesn't get the attention it warrants.

He said: "I host anywhere between 50 and 100 kids at every home game. Whether it be children with heart problems, Down syndrome kids, cancer kids ... we have kids in wheelchairs who would never have thought they'd ever see a match. For me it's an amazing feeling to be able to do that, but that's what the club is about."

While he attracts criticism from some quarters, Serepisos says he is much loved by the people of Wellington.

"I get handshakes wherever I go. I have done a lot for this city and I am proud of what I have done ... I am very proud of my team and where it's heading."

He says he might travel to South Africa to cheer on the All Whites but is concerned about taking his son Julian because of high crime rates.

If not, he will watch in the four-storey mansion where he lives in the exclusive Wellington suburb of Roseneath, and where he is king of the castle.