Update– Despite reports earlier on Thursday, James Hird has survived the day as coach of the Essendon Bombers.
Hird confirmed in a morning press conference outside of his Toorak home that he would be appealing last month’s Federal Court decision which rejected Essendon’s claim ASADA’s investigation into the club’s use of banned supplements was unlawful.
The 41-year-old coach has defied the Essendon board’s wishes not to drag out the saga further, despite the looming threat of ASADA show-cause notices, and has subsequently left his job in jeopardy.
Hird was later met by a scrum of reporters leaving Essendon HQ following a board meeting, saying only “Yes, I am still the coach”.
The Essendon board is set to meet over the weekend or early next week to decide Hird’s fate.
“The board intends meeting again either over the weekend or very early next week and we will then determine the strategy going foward but at this point in time there’s nothing further to report to you,” chairman Paul Little said, confirming Hird remained as the “current coach of the Essendon football club”.
According to a an earlier report from The Age’s Caroline Wilson, the first stage of his removal went down on Wednesday when the club legend was given the option of resigning with a nominal payout or being fired.
The Age claimed Hird was removed following a meeting with club chairman Paul Little in one of Little’s South Yarra offices shortly before Wednesday night’s Crichton Medal count. Hird was reportedly given a document outlining the first stage of his exit from the club.
