Hird deal may now be close

UNDER-seige Essendon coach James Hird never backed down from a fight on the field, and he isn’t backing down from his fight with the AFL over the ASADA drug investigation... yet.

Speculation was rife yesterday that Hird would stand down as coach after calling a press conference for 11.30am.

But after being caught up in meetings, assistant coach Simon Goodwin stepped in, saying Hird would call the shots for tonight’s match against Carlton at the MCG.

Reports suggested Essendon and Hird were close to cutting a deal with the AFL, which would see him step aside in exchange for the club being fined and losing its season points, but keeping its draft picks.

Saturday, August 24, 2013