Ryan McKenzie made the comments at a District Licensing Committee hearing in Dunedin yesterday.
The hearing was convened after concerns were raised about the involvement of Mr Dale in a new bar called Terminus, set to open at the Great King St site previously occupied by The Break.
Former business associates last month spoke to the Otago Daily Times about Mr Dale's string of debts, claimed to total at least $240,000, from Capone and Boogie Nites, both in Frederick St, and Urban Factory, in Great King St.
At the hearing, Mr McKenzie said Mr Dale was an old friend and former employer and he asked him to become involved in Terminus after hearing he was ‘‘down on his luck''.
But after receiving further information about Mr Dale, he promised the committee Mr Dale would have ‘‘absolutely nothing to do with my company, now or going forward''.
He outlined his experience working in hospitality since 2006, saying he had not been in trouble with authorities, and pleaded with committee to give him a chance at running his own bar.
‘‘I guess I just come, hat in hand, to ask you to please forgive my oversight of listing [Mr Dale] as part of my business.
‘‘I was just trying to help an old friend get a hand-up.
‘‘Looking back in hindsight, it was a bloody stupid idea.''
He said he was targeting more mature patrons than The Break, which closed in September following a litany of issues including Mongrel Mob connections, high staff turnover and an inability to stick to licensing rules.
This and a plan to install CCTV cameras on the outside of the building would help prevent disorder in and around the bar.
Alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin said he was ‘‘reassured'' by the fact Mr Dale would no longer be involved, which was the source of police concern.
‘‘My comments really revolved around the involvement of Rob Dale, which really raised big alarm bells for police.''
He had no hesitation in recommending Mr McKenzie as a ‘‘very good duty manager'' who was well-suited as an operator of a new bar at the site.
Sgt Paulin was not concerned about the involvement of Thomas Hannagan, who was at fault during overcrowding at Boogie Nites during O-Week in 2014.
He said he raised the issue of Mr Hannagan's involvement in his report as a ‘‘heads-up'' to the committee.
Sgt Paulin believed Mr Hannagan might have been influenced by Mr Dale during overcrowding during O-Week.
Mr Dale operated Boogie Nites at the time.
He was probably being ‘‘mentored'' by the wrong person and working under Mr McKenzie would be a good move for him.
Mr McKenzie was earlier grilled by district licensing commissioner Wayne Idour, who asked, ‘‘How can we have any confidence in what you are telling us today?''
Mr McKenzie said he had never had any trouble with authorities, and went on to say: ‘‘I am slightly taken aback by the question, to be honest.''
He believed the bars he had worked for previously would give him ‘‘glowing reviews''.
