What they said as Hird left Essendon

NOTABLE QUOTES AS JAMES HIRD LEAVES ESSENDON:

“Paul said it was the board’s opinion (that) the football club would never be truly free of the ASADA issue while I was coach and he was the chairman. On Monday night, I agreed to tender my resignation to Essendon, which was accepted by the board.” – James Hird

“Personally – some of you may disagree – I believe I am a good coach.” – Hird.

“Tania, Stephanie, Tom, Alex and William – I am truly sorry for what you have had to endure.” – Hird shedding a tear as he speaks about his family

“Perhaps if WADA hadn’t appealed, we would have had that clear air … The WADA appeal probably drove us back into the mire.” – Hird

“What’s a scapegoat look like? Has it got horns? Has it got a beard? Is it a normal goat? I don’t know … You know what, I don’t feel like a scapegoat. What I feel like is an Essendon person who wants this club to be successful.” – Hird

“Are you trying to get me in trouble … I don’t want to get into any more trouble at the moment.” – Hird, when asked to comment on the AFL-ASADA investigation into the Essendon supplements regime

“What do you think?” – Hird, when asked if he had been asked to sign a non-disparagement agreement

“Certainly … the decisions in 2011 that were made, in hindsight, some of them were mistakes. “Were they mistakes to the level that we’ve been crucified for? No, I don’t think so.” – Hird, when asked if he has any regrets about the supplements regime.”

“I don’t have any direct evidence of that.” – Hird, when asked if he thought the AFL had any role in his demise at Essendon

“I have a lot of friends in that playing group.” – Hird

“The board and James have agreed on a negotiated settlement, the terms of which shall remain confidential.” – Essendon chairman Paul Little

“I plan to stay on as chairman until I can steer the club and our players through the final stages of the WADA appeal.” – Little

“I don’t accept we’ve sacked the coach. We’ve been to a lot of trouble in the last 15 or 20 minutes to explain that the culmination of events … had James offering to resign if we collectively thought it was in the best interests of the club.” – Little

“James touched on it before, but this whole thing has changed people and no one’s for the better because of it.” Essendon captain Jobe Watson.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!