JAMES Hird has agreed to lay down his weapons in the war against the AFL at a “robust” board meeting held in Essendon chairman Paul Little’s South Yarra offices.

The two-hour meeting ended with the club resolving to honour Hird’s 2015-16 coaching contract — on the condition his family ceased its attacks on league chiefs for their handling of the Bombers’ drugs saga.

Hird will not be required to sign a fresh contract agreement but is effectively on a final warning.

READ PAUL LITTLE’S STATEMENT ON JAMES HIRD

Little yesterday declared that the club believed both James and Tania were genuine in their commitment to respect club protocols and to stop commenting on the scandal.

But the club has conceded it has no grounds to control Hird’s wider supporters.

“Our advice to James is he needs to let go those issues in terms of his current contracted involvement with the Essendon Football Club,” Little said.

“I think it’s time for James to get over his anger. I think it’s understandable that James is frustrated but I don’t believe that emotion will help him become a better coach of the Essendon Football Club.

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“The interests of the club must remain greater than those of any one individual.”

Hird, who is studying a business degree in Singapore, spoke to the club’s directors on speaker phone, while Tania appeared in person to explain the circumstances behind her ABC TV interview last Thursday.

News_Image_File: Tania Hird leaves her Toorak house today. Picture: Ian Currie

The club apologised to Tania after her voluntary attendance at the meeting was portrayed by some media outlets as a club order.

“I think both James and Tania have come a huge way in turning the corner,” Little said.

“I believe that they now realise the events of the last week or so have, in an unintended way, created a lot of concern, a lot of stress, and potentially damage to the Esendon footy club.

“We certainly don’t want to gag James we just want to ensure the focus on the football club is where it needs to be.”



News_Image_File: Essendon chairman Paul Little fronts the media. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Little indicated Hird would tell his side of the story when the ASADA investigation finished.

The Bombers chairman also repeated his belief that he did not expect any Essendon players to receive infraction notices.

Hird will return to the club in late August after serving his 12-month suspension and take back the senior coaching job in October.

News_Rich_Media: James Hird is confident of avoiding the axe from Essendon despite this week's board meeting and expects to lead the club in 2015.

Essendon had kept the Hirds hanging for six days after Tania appeared on the ABC’s 7.30 program as part of an investigation into AFL bullying.

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Mrs Hird repeated claims Demetriou had tipped off Essendon about investigations into the club’s 2012 drugs program and said her husband had been “scaepgoated” by the league.

News_Module: James Hird decision