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Tearful Hird ‘sorry’ for supplements saga

Getty

Getty

A tearful Bombers coach James Hird has apologised for the two-year supplements saga saying he is relieved that it’s finally over.

At a press conference on Tuesday Hird opened up, revealing he was asked to consider standing down.

Earlier on Tuesday the AFL anti-doping tribunal found unanimously it was “not comfortably satisfied” any player was given the banned synthetic substance thymosin beta-4.

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“I love the Essendon Football Club,” Hird said through tears.

“It has been part of my life since I was born, part of my father’s life and part of my grandfather’s life.

James Hird shows the strain on Tuesday. Photo: Getty

James Hird shows the strain on Tuesday. Photo: Getty

“I am so sorry for anything that’s happened and anything … done wrong to our players or done wrong to our football club.

“I, we, would never do anything intentionally to hurt this football club, to harm the game of AFL football that’s given me so much and given so many people so much.”

Hird said the investigation process had dinted the club’s reputation and hurt the reputation of the people within it.

“I don’t think the process … and the leaks in the media and the fact that so much information that was private and confidential was put into the general public (was appropriate),” he said.

“I don’t think that is the way the process should have run but it has run that way and we’re ready to move on.”

When asked if he knew what the players has been injected with, he said “as a coach, no”, because he was not the person choosing the supplements and that was not his role.

However, he admitted the club had been completely open throughout the investigation.

“What I do have confidence in is after almost two year investigation … we threw our doors open, all the players gave all the evidence we could, we gave over our mobile phones and computers,” Hird said.

“Through all the speculation only one substance was decided that there could be circumstantial evidence for players to have taken performance enhancing drugs.

“Today, that substance has been ruled out.”

Hird praised club captain Jobe Watson and the 34 players for the resilience they had shown in coping with the ongoing stress of the process.

“It (the decision) gives us all a chance to have a fresh start and do what we love and that is be involved in football,” he said.

Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Sydney Swans will be the first game in two seasons that the club won’t have heavy clouds hanging over its head.

“Yes we’ve been angry, but right now we want to coach, we want to play, we want to be successful,” Hird said.

Bombers chairman Paul Little hopes the decision brings closure.

Club chairman Paul Little hopes the decision brings closure. Photo: Getty

Club chairman Paul Little spoke at the press conference with Hird saying he hoped Tuesday’s decision brought closure for the players and their families.

He also said there was still the possibility for an appeal.

“We have learned many lessons and we are also confident that the actions taken by the club will ensure our players can never be put in this position again,” Little said.

“The positive to come out of this is that we’ve now got a club that will set the benchmark through governance issues in the AFL and sports generally.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Tuesday any decision on whether to appeal the decision was up to ASADA.

“My personal view is no … there has been a decision made after a long, protracted period but that is a decision for ASADA,” he said.

“I’m pleased for the players and understand what a relief it is.”

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