Bird looks to fly to Super League as Sharks CEO faces assault allegation
Andrew Webster | November 21, 2008
Police have dropped one of the charges against Cronulla Sharks star Greg Bird - accused of attacking his girlfriend with a glass - and replaced it with a lesser charge.
SUSPENDED Sharks star Greg Bird is poised to resurrect his career in England as revelations surfaced that the club's chief executive, Tony Zappia, is defending accusations from a female employee that he assaulted her.
Bird is devastated his court case for allegedly hitting girlfriend Katie Milligan in the face with a glass was yesterday adjourned until April 27 as it means his football career remains in limbo. One of the charges that had been levelled at him was downgraded in Downing Centre Local Court yesterday, but police refused to drop the interim apprehended violence order that prevented him from being in contact with Milligan, who remains overseas.
It is understood Bird may now ask for a release from the Sharks in an attempt to play for another NRL club, but his management will start sounding out UK Super League clubs in the next week.
"He's over it all and wants to get away from all this," a source close to the Australian and NSW representative said last night. "He's shattered. He just wants to play footy again."
In a new twist, the Herald has learned Zappia - the man poised to terminate Bird's contract - has been accused of assaulting a female employee. He refused to comment when contacted last night, but NRL chief executive David Gallop confirmed he knew about the claims.
"We are aware that an allegation has been made against him [Zappia]," Gallop said. "At this stage, we are waiting for a report from the club about it."
It is believed the incident allegedly occurred in September, while Zappia and the employee were skylarking at a Sharks home match. No complaint has been made to police and charges have not been laid, but the matter was, according to club sources, due to appear before the Industrial Relations Commission this morning.
The employee, who is on paid leave from the club, is understood to have taken photos of her bruised face after the incident. It is an ironic development as the club's biggest name defends claims of an assault against his girlfriend.
Bird, 24, hardly breathed a sigh of relief as he stormed out of court yesterday morning, telling reporters he "had a ball" while on recent holidays in the US and then bristled at a journalist "don't touch me" when her microphone brushed his shoulder.
His charge of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm was downgraded to reckless wounding, but he also faces three other charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two charges of lying to police.
Zappia would not be drawn on Bird's fate but the Herald understands the club will not wait until after Bird's court case in late April to determine his future.
The Sharks board is expected to convene shortly to decide on a course of action, but Bird's manager, Gavin Orr, hinted last night his client was ready to relocate overseas despite insisting throughout the ordeal he wanted to remain in Australia.
"Greg is very disappointed with what has happened today because it means his future is still on hold for another five months," Orr said. "He might now have to work out whether he can stay here or play abroad."
The NRL has maintained it would not allow Bird to play at another NRL club if the assault allegations were proven. Asked if Bird gaining a release from the Sharks instead of being sacked might allow him to stay in the NRL, Gallop replied: "Potentially, yes. But one of the things we would look at was the attitude of the club that has terminated him and what led them to terminate him. At this stage, a lot of issues have to be resolved between Greg and the club, and he also has the police matters to sort out as well."
