Mr Williams, a former Channel 9 sports presenter, made a brief appearance in Singleton Local Court on Thursday morning where he pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife.

Mr Williams was arrested about 12.45 am on Sunday, November 20, at the couple's rural retreat at Howes Valley after a heated argument.

They had been working on the property with two friends before they began drinking on Saturday, and later argued in their room when Mr Williams allegedly grabbed his wife's arm and pushed her.

One of their friends allegedly heard the couple arguing from a nearby room and called triple zero.

Police arrived at the Putty Road property about 1am and arrested Mr Williams who was taken to Cessnock police station and charged with one count each of common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm, which he denies.

He was also placed on an apprehended domestic violence order to be of good behaviour.

Mr Williams, 59, of Coogee, is expected back in court on January 20 for a defended hearing estimated to take four hours.

Williams quit his job as a sports presenter at Nine in March, claiming he had been struggling for years with increasingly poor health and wanted to address the situation for his family.

Following Williams' arrest, defence lawyer Paul McGirr released a statement declaring the television personality was a loving family man who was "extremely embarrassed by all this"

Mr McGirr said there was a lot more to the story and Williams would deny any wrongdoing.

Williams and his wife have put their four-bedroom home in Coogee, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, up for sale and it will go to auction on Saturday with a price guide of $5.4 million.

Williams declined to comment outside court.

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