League Notes: AFL Says No Pay For Hird Was A Verbal Guarantee

The Australian Football League "has confirmed there is nothing written in the 'Terms of the Deed' for James Hird's 12-month suspension that specifically states the coach-in-exile cannot be paid by Essendon during the period of his ban." However, the league "insists it clearly outlined the terms in conversations with Bombers officials after the public release of the penalties, and one of the conditions -- given verbally -- was that Hird could not be paid by the club" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/5). ... The Indian Premier League's Governing Council has "brought in a new regulation that states all cricketers -- international and domestic -- will have to be bought through the annual player auction only." In the case of overseas cricketers, franchises recommend the names of players they wish to see in the auction list. Now, "an identical process will be followed for the domestic cricketers too" (TNN, 12/5).