As if a stint in rehab, an album flop and his old band reforming with a sell-out arena tour wasn’t enough, Robbie Williams’ annus horribilus just got worse.

The multi-millionaire singer today apologised in the High Court to former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith over an allegation in lyrics of the song The 90s, in which Williams suggested he had stolen funds from the band.

Williams, 33, also agreed to pay undisclosed damages to the flamboyant Manchester manager, which some reports suggest could total £500,000.

The song, from Williams’ last album Rudebox, detailed him joining Take That, but the lyrics were changed after Martin-Smith launched legal action in October last year.

Mr Martin-Smith’s counsel, David Sherborne, told Mr Justice Tugendhat in the High Court: “Robbie Williams wishes to make it clear to his fans, and the public at large, that he did not intend these lyrics to be taken at face value or as a serious statement by him of the views which he holds of Nigel Martin-Smith.

“Specifically, Robbie Williams did not intend to allege that Nigel Martin-Smith has ever stolen any funds from Take That or anyone.”

Mr Sherborne added: “Robbie Williams wishes now to apologise publicly and unreservedly for the distress that the original publication of those lyrics caused to Nigel.”

Martin-Smith told the Manchester Evening News this week: "Robbie has agreed to make a public apology and will pay damages. That will be the end of the matter.

"I told Robbie I didn't want damages and that I would happily waive them if he would meet me face to face to chat about what has happened and put all this negativity behind us. I said we should just be friends again. But he refused to meet me. It's a real shame it has come to this."

The court settlement ends a long-running feud between Williams and the music svengali who put together Take That, which went on to become one of the biggest boy bands of the 1990s.

Martin-Smith had never liked Williams, who he once reportedly referred to as: “the spawn of Satan”. The manager was apparently one of the key movers to remove Williams from Take That, with whom he split acrimoniously in 1995. Martin-Smith then sued Williams for breach of contract.

Williams went on to become an international star, with hit singles such as Angels and Let Me Entertain You, and selling 55 million albums worldwide. He has since moved to Los Angeles where he indulges his passion for football as a player/manager of the LA Vale FC team.

Earlier this year he went into rehab, while Take That – Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - reformed in April and are currently on the tail end of a popular European tour.

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