ROBBIE Williams' father today denied reports the pop star is facing bankruptcy after losing a High Court battle.

Entertainer Pete Conway said stories of his celebrity son's financial plight were 'nonsense.'

Robbie, 23, of Tunstall, must pay a huge chunk of his earnings to former manager Nigel Martin-Smith - the final bill including commission and costs has been estimated at up to £1million.

The former Take That star was ordered to immediately pay £90,000 commission on his earnings after Mr Martin-Smith brought the proceedings against him following Robbie's acrimonious split from the band.

His lifestyle was said to have clashed with the band's squeaky clean image masterminded by Mr Martin-Smith who insisted on a regime of early nights, no girlfriends and no scandal.

Robbie - currently on a solo tour of Italy - is reported in newspapers as having said: "I've been bled dry. I don't know where the money is going to come from.''

But Mr Conway, compere at Alvaston Hall, near Nantwich, said: "I haven't spoken to Robbie since the case but talk of bankruptcy is nonsense - I can't see that being right.

"He's in Italy at the moment and I don't expect to see him until Christmas so I only know what I have seen on the news.

"But I saw him three weeks ago and we didn't even discuss the case.

" He won't be fazed by what's happened. He'll just get on with what he's doing. That's what he's like.''

Robbie is believed to have earned around £2million with Take That, who had 15 chart hits including eight number ones.

The singer, who now lives in Notting Hill, West London, is reckoned to have banked a further £2million from his solo career.

Robbie has also lost a reported £1.7 million in legal battles with his former record company RCA and three managers.

He walked out of Take That in July 1995 but his agreement with Mr Martin-Smith did not end until February, 1996.

Mr Martin-Smith said: "I am very much saddened by the fact I was forced to take this action.''

A spokesman for Robbie's management company said: "We are naturally disappointed but this is just the first step in a long legal process and we will be appealing.'' See Page 11

First Published: November 14 1997