Shambles over Hird pay deal

REVELATIONS James Hird is being paid a wage further undermine the credibility of the AFL process, says Mark Robinson.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou speaks to the media outside radio station 3AW. Picture: Hamish Blair

REVELATIONS James Hird is being paid a wage further undermine the credibility of the AFL process in the Essendon drugs saga.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says Hird can't be paid, and is not being paid by Essendon.

The Herald Sun yesterday revealed Hird is being paid, and confirms today that Essendon is paying.

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This is not about Hird's drawing a salary while being suspended. Everyone needs an income.

The defence by Demetriou was in response to yesterday's Herald Sun revelations that a deal offer to Hird had been struck between Essendon chairman Paul Little and Australian Sports Commission chairman John Wylie, with the knowledge of AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.

The deal offer included a salary for Hird.

Then, Demetriou gets on Melbourne radio and stakes his entire credibility on Hird's not being paid.

How did it get to that?

How can the AFL CEO not know that Hird was being paid by Essendon; has been being paid for three months; and will be for a further nine months?

What a shambles.