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Nick Markham | 04/12/08 | 0
VIDEO - Watch the latest Greg Bird saga unfold
Embattled Sharks star Greg Bird has been granted a stay of execution, with the Cronulla board holding over a decision on the former representative star's future until at least the 16th of December.
The Cronulla board was unable to reach a decision on Bird's future with the NRL club on tonight, after receiving a 10-page "show-cause" document from the fallen star.
Sharks chairman Barry Pierce emerged from the Cronulla Leagues Club, after a specially convened board meeting, to deliver a short statement.
"The board has obviously met with Greg Bird and his representatives this evening," Pierce read from the prepared statement outside the club.
"We have only received today a 10-page reply to the club's `show cause' notice issued on November 12, which has been discussed at length tonight with Greg and his legal counsel.
"The full board will now continue its deliberations.
"The next scheduled full board meeting is on the 16th of December."
Bird fronted the board to plead his case for more than an hour and a half, before emerging with his manager Gavin Orr, who issued a brief statement.
"We've come here tonight and we've met with the board and we think we've had a fair hearing and now we're going to wait for the results of that hearing sometime tomorrow, and that's all we're going to say," Orr told reporters.
Asked if a decision would be announced tomorrow, as Orr had hoped, Pierce said: "With what we received today, we need a lot more deliberating, so there will be no decision tomorrow, I can assure you."
The NSW and Australian representative five-eighth left from the meeting at around 8.35pm (AEDT).
The club is reportedly set to sack Bird, who will face charges of reckless wounding and lying to police stemming from an incident involving girlfriend Katie Milligan.
Earlier, a planned fan rally over the Sharks star's seemingly imminent axing failed to eventuate.
Sharks fan sites had been buzzing during the week with plans to protest the Test and Origin star's expected dismissal, and a text message call-to-arms was reportedly issued, but both seemingly had no impact.
No pro-Bird supporters made the journey to Sharks Leagues Club
The Sharks' board were expected to sack Bird tonight, and then recommend the NRL board ban the five-eighth for two years.
The NRL board are also reportedly keen to see Bird sacked.
We've come here tonight and we've met with the board and we think we've had a fair hearing...
Gavin Orr, Bird's manager
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