Bobby DIGital
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Why Greg is a shot Bird
By Dean Ritchie | December 04, 2008 12:00am
CRONULLA officials will tonight rely on Greg Bird's string of conduct breaches to sack the former Test five-eighth.
While debate surrounding Bird's future has centred on the alleged glassing of girlfriend Katie Milligan in August, at least four other indiscretions will be raised to legally justify his immediate dismissal.
Bird will front the entire nine-man Cronulla board, as well as the club's legal representatives and CEO Tony Zappia, at Sharkies Leagues tonight.
It is widely expected that the 25-year-old will have his four-year deal - worth more than $1.2 million - torn up.
Bird and his manager Gavin Orr have publicly foreshadowed termination, arguing that such action must wait until the charges relating to Milligan are proven in court.
But The Daily Telegraph understands the Sharks board is assured that Bird has amassed a long enough rap sheet over the past 12 months to warrant his axing under the club's contractual code of conduct.
On top of the Milligan drama, Bird has also been charged with misleading police after allegedly claiming that close friend Brett Watson was responsible for the injury to Milligan.
Senior Sharks figures also remain unimpressed with the story Bird initially told them about the incident, which led to Cronulla having to clarify their original press release.
On top of that, Bird is also facing a separate charge of assaulting a female at a Cronulla nightspot on January 19.
Six months after that incident, he was handcuffed by Queensland police outside a Brisbane bar following Origin II.
Bird was detained for failing to comply with a move-along direction, but Sharks officials have since viewed CCTV footage of the incident that they feel shows him being abusive toward officers.
Since being stood down after the Milligan charges were laid, Bird was then involved in two bizarre encounters near his Cronulla flat in October.
The first saw him engage in an argument with passers-by, and then, a few days later, he stopped a passing car and demanded a lift to a nearby pizza store.
Cronulla's primary sponsors are refusing to interfere in the Bird drama and are prepared to let the club management make the decision on the embattled Test star without their input.
"It's up to the club to make that decision," PKF CEO David Ratcliffe said.
"We support the club and support the game.
"We trust that (Sharks CEO) Tony Zappia would be in a position to make a decision."
Gerry Harvey, boss of Harvey Norman, said his company would also allow the club to decide Bird's fate.
"The last thing I want to do is tell them how to handle it," Harvey said.
"They are very capable people and they will make the decision which is in the best interests of the club."
An LG Electronics spokeswoman added: "We will continue to support the club but will decline to comment on allegations against an individual."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24746606-5006066,00.html
So he lied about that arrest when he said it was a "joke" by the cops. And the Sharks did too.
Please send this guy to jail.
By Dean Ritchie | December 04, 2008 12:00am
CRONULLA officials will tonight rely on Greg Bird's string of conduct breaches to sack the former Test five-eighth.
While debate surrounding Bird's future has centred on the alleged glassing of girlfriend Katie Milligan in August, at least four other indiscretions will be raised to legally justify his immediate dismissal.
Bird will front the entire nine-man Cronulla board, as well as the club's legal representatives and CEO Tony Zappia, at Sharkies Leagues tonight.
It is widely expected that the 25-year-old will have his four-year deal - worth more than $1.2 million - torn up.
Bird and his manager Gavin Orr have publicly foreshadowed termination, arguing that such action must wait until the charges relating to Milligan are proven in court.
But The Daily Telegraph understands the Sharks board is assured that Bird has amassed a long enough rap sheet over the past 12 months to warrant his axing under the club's contractual code of conduct.
On top of the Milligan drama, Bird has also been charged with misleading police after allegedly claiming that close friend Brett Watson was responsible for the injury to Milligan.
Senior Sharks figures also remain unimpressed with the story Bird initially told them about the incident, which led to Cronulla having to clarify their original press release.
On top of that, Bird is also facing a separate charge of assaulting a female at a Cronulla nightspot on January 19.
Six months after that incident, he was handcuffed by Queensland police outside a Brisbane bar following Origin II.
Bird was detained for failing to comply with a move-along direction, but Sharks officials have since viewed CCTV footage of the incident that they feel shows him being abusive toward officers.
Since being stood down after the Milligan charges were laid, Bird was then involved in two bizarre encounters near his Cronulla flat in October.
The first saw him engage in an argument with passers-by, and then, a few days later, he stopped a passing car and demanded a lift to a nearby pizza store.
Cronulla's primary sponsors are refusing to interfere in the Bird drama and are prepared to let the club management make the decision on the embattled Test star without their input.
"It's up to the club to make that decision," PKF CEO David Ratcliffe said.
"We support the club and support the game.
"We trust that (Sharks CEO) Tony Zappia would be in a position to make a decision."
Gerry Harvey, boss of Harvey Norman, said his company would also allow the club to decide Bird's fate.
"The last thing I want to do is tell them how to handle it," Harvey said.
"They are very capable people and they will make the decision which is in the best interests of the club."
An LG Electronics spokeswoman added: "We will continue to support the club but will decline to comment on allegations against an individual."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24746606-5006066,00.html
So he lied about that arrest when he said it was a "joke" by the cops. And the Sharks did too.
Please send this guy to jail.
