Dodgers owner Frank McCourt talks... sort of

Provided an opportunity to clarify various accusations leveled at him in court filings, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt declined to do so, saying they were personal matters.

Among the allegations put forth by former team president Jamie McCourt: that the Dodgers planned to keep their payroll below last year’s level through 2018 while nearly doubling the average ticket price, that two of his sons draw a combined salary of $600,000 from the Dodgers even though they don’t work for the club, and that he didn’t pay any federal and state income taxes from 2004-09.

The issues would be addressed, he said, in future court filings.

Asked if he thought his growing image problem would adversely affect the club, McCourt replied, “Not at all.”

While current Dodgers President Dennis Mannion is in charge of the team’s day-to-day operations, McCourt said the decision-making process still ends with him.

McCourt said that General Manager Ned Colletti would be given the same kind of financial flexibility he enjoyed at last year’s trade deadline, when he acquired George Sherrill, Vicente Padilla, Ronnie Belliard, Jim Thome and Jon Garland.

More to come on this story. For updates, check back at latimes.com/sports.

-- Dylan Hernandez, reporting from Phoenix

Photo: Frank McCourt takes in a Dodgers game on July 4 of 2006. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Zen]

As long as McCourt meets the payroll, and the fans fill the seats, I think he's correct: his personal issues won't affect the performance of the team. If he's willing to augment the roster at critical times with some key players, this team's prospects look just as solid as they did in 2008 and 2009.

[Greg]

I'm sorry, but this sordid mess has shined enough light on the lifestyle the McCourt's have led to make me seriously angry. Revelations of tax sheltering, net-jet flying, and ridiculous monthly spending really cause me to wonder why I should pay $12 for a beer at the park. It's one thing to justify high ticket and concession prices to fund the outrageous salaries of the players, but quite another to fund the buffoonery of the owners...