Sharks fans rally behind their fallen Bird

Peter Cassidy | 03/12/08 | 0

AUDIO - FANS DIVIDED: CSSC vice-president insists a protest isn't the solution

Frustrated Sharks supporters are planning a rally to protest the expected axing of Greg Bird in a last ditch bid to save the career of their fallen star.

Bird, his manager Gavin Orr and legal representative Les Nicholls will front the Cronulla board tomorrow night where it appears Bird will have his contract torn up.

The Test lock was stood down by the club in August after being charged over the alleged glassing of his girlfriend Katie Milligan, but a band of Sharks supporters are adamant he deserves a second chance.

"Let's get right behind GB (Bird)!!," one fan known as sharkstragic wrote on the unofficial Sharks forum, sharksforever.com - before calling to arms those who believe the club should stick with Bird.

"If we want to keep GB in our team we must stand up and make our voice be heard.

"The only way to do this is to go to the club on Thursday or Friday when the board meeting is conducted and be let the board know how we feel."

"I spoke to Chris Orr (Gavin's bro and partner) earlier and that's what got this ball rolling."

"He wasn't 100 per cent of the timing but I asked him to let me know when the meeting is on."

"I emailed Gavin on the company website and told him that there are many Sharks fans out there who would support Greg in his plight."

Other forum users supported sharkstragic's push.

"I`ll fly from Victoria to be there!" wrote hitman124.

Another, IronSharks, put it this way.

"On one hand, they are crying poor and asking people to support the club, buy memberships etc but at the same time, we are going to sack a loyal, star player over what increasingly appears to be a non-issue. Until he is found guilty of something, lets get on with Season 2009."

But Cronulla chairman Barry Pierce isn’t phased.

"I don't know anything about the (protest) meeting but those fans are entitled to an opinion."

"We just have to go through the process.''

"I am also getting a number of emailers who disapprove of what Greg did and that they are pleased with how we are handling it."

It's believed the Sharks want Bird banned from the NRL competition for two years. The NRL is thought to be considering deregistering him for one.

If we want to keep [Greg Bird] in our team we must stand up and make our voice be heard... Sharks forum user, sharkstragic