: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:42 am  

On Bulls Website now. Will re-apply after court case all being well.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:45 am  

“Greg Bird will have to wait until his day in court to prove his innocence and get back his life,” said his agent Chris Orr, in a statement this morning.

“Today he has had to endure more heartache as his application to secure a visa to take up his contract with the Bradford Bulls was denied due to facing a police charge.

“Rather than fight this decision through the appeals process, Greg has decided to have his day in court and prove his innocence before reapplying.

“The Bradford Bulls will support Greg throughout this period with a view of him joining them as soon as he has cleared his name.

“Neither Greg nor the Bradford Bulls will be making any further comment until after the court case on April 27.”

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:48 am  

Welcome (almost) to our world!

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:09 am  

Good to see our government finally standing up to be counted.

British jobs for British workers.

[Bullseye]

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:09 am  

Shouldn't be a huge surprise, it was always a strong possibility IMO.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:11 am  

chpntpsr wrote:

Absolute joke, when you think of all the eastern europeans that come in thanks to our links to brilliant EU, that offer nothing to the country, compared to what Greg Bird would offer

Unfortunately though the EU trade laws mean we can't stop people from within the EU coming into the country whereas we (rightly so in most cases) can stop people coming in from outside of the EU if there is reason to do so.

With the court case hanging over him it was never going to be easy for him to get a visa unfortunately.

[Bullseye]

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:18 am  

chpntpsr wrote:

Absolute joke, when you think of all the eastern europeans that come in thanks to our links to brilliant EU, that offer nothing to the country, compared to what Greg Bird would offer

Never mind all those plumbers and other skilled workers, it's foreign RL players with court cases hanging over them that we want in the UK eh?

If I would you I'd write to Richard Littlejohn and complain.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:22 am  

Good to see the racists out, I'd have thought it was a bit early but it helps the working day get off to a flyer.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:24 am  

Not the best news going into the first game of the season. At least Ben Jeffries will be happy

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:29 am  

Highlander wrote:

But I do find it troubling that a man who has only been accused of a crime and not found guilty of anything now finds himself unable to work in his preferred field presumably due to an accusation of a crime.

Hardly a big deal, we have plenty of people who are locked up in prison who haven't been convicted of anything, it's called remand.

Can't say i'm surprised tbh, and I would hope our 'support' is limited to empathy and the odd phone call, rather than involving any financial commitment. If he wins his court case and is still keen to come then all well and good.