Hird has reportedly been sacked as Essendon coach after pursuing legal action against ASADA.
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James Hird as reportedly been sacked as coach of Essendon.
The Age newspaper reports Hird was sacked following an emergency meeting with club chairman Paul Little on Thursday morning.
It comes after Hird’s decision to pursue further legal action against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) despite Essendon’s decision to withdraw from the case.
The Age report that Hird was yesterday given the opportunity to resign with a pay out, or be sacked.
Mark Thompson, who filled in for Hird during his 12-month AFL ban, is now the favourite to take over from the former premiership-winning captain in a full-time capacity.
Hird released a statement this morning, saying he was determined to appeal the decision as he does not want the club, nor its players, to be “stained” by what he believes was an unlawful joint investigation from ASADA and the AFL into the Bombers’ 2012 supplements program.
“I have been advised and believe that there are strong reasons why that decision is incorrect and that this is the proper and appropriate course to vindicate the legal rights of the [Essendon Football Club] and its players.
“The challenge to the lawfulness of the joint investigation was and is an important step in showing that the Essendon Football Club, its players and staff were submitted to a compromised investigation and were treated unfairly.
“If we don’t appeal our players may be stained forever by the innuendo, misconceptions and falsities that resulted from an investigation that we believe was conducted unlawfully.”
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