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The Roar

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James Hird facing the sack: report

1st October, 2014
25

The future of Essendon coach James Hird will reportedly be decided at an emergency board meeting the AFL club has called for Thursday.

Fairfax Media is reporting Hird will proceed with an appeal against last month’s devastating Federal Court ruling.

The Bombers are said to have decided against pursuing any further court action.

Fairfax says Bombers chairman Paul Little and chief executive Xavier Campbell were unable to convince Hird he should follow the club’s path.

Fairfax added that Hird is not expected to attend the club’s best and fairest function on Wednesday night.

Caretaker coach Mark Thompson, who guided the side this season in the absence of suspended Hird, is understood to be attending the function.

Thompson had been tipped to take over as Gold Coast coach, with the Suns sacking Guy McKenna on Wednesday.

But the two-time premiership coach is yet to commit to the Suns.

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Recent legal action was the latest chapter in the Bombers’ sordid supplements saga.

The club and Hird took ASADA to court, arguing the anti-doping body’s joint investigation into the 2012 supplements program at Essendon was unlawful.

But Justice John Middleton ruled decisively against them, despite their confidence that they had strong cases.

The Bombers and Hird officially have until October 10 to confirm whether they will appeal.

ASADA announced last week that if Essendon and Hird decided not to appeal, the national anti-doping body would proceed with revised show-cause notices against 34 current and former Bombers players.

The show-cause notices are the first step in the anti-doping disciplinary process.

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