One chapter of the Essendon supplements saga is over, with coach James Hird ending his legal fight against the joint ASADA-AFL investigation into the club.

Hird confirmed on Friday afternoon he would not seek special leave to appeal to the High Court.

It followed the unsuccessful challenge from Hird and the Bombers in the Federal Court last year.

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Hird then broke ranks with the club and appealed against that verdict, but that was also a resounding failure.

He had until Friday to initiate a High Court appeal, following the January 30 appeal verdict.

While Hird has ended his legal challenge, he remains adamant the joint investigation was unlawful.

“All the way along, we’ve fought this (fight) in the Federal Court firstly because we believed our players and staff weren’t afforded the rights they deserve,” he said.

“We believe the investigation was unlawful and we’ve fought this on principle.

“It’s been said we’ve tried to suppress evidence, we’ve tried to hide the truth, but that’s far from the truth.

“We believe the investigation was unlawful – we still believe that.”

Hird said his legal fight was over because he and everyone else at Essendon needed to concentrate on football.

“This football club needs to win games of footy and play football,” he said, while also thanking fans for their support.

The next step in the two-year saga is the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s verdicts on 34 current and past Essendon players, expected in the next few weeks.

The tribunal is deliberating on charges related to the 2012 supplements program at the club.

“Fundamentally, we still believe our players weren’t treated the way they should have been treated – confidentiality and certain aspects that the average Australian, the normal Australian, is given,” Hird said of the joint investigation.

“So that’s very disappointing.

“Ultimately, we hope the players are cleared … through the tribunal process.”

The charges against the players were laid as a result of the ASADA-AFL investigation.

As a result of the tribunal hearing, Essendon have had to recruit top-up players for the NAB Challenge and potentially for the regular season as well.

All 25 players still on Essendon’s list in 2012 are sitting out the pre-season until the tribunal verdicts are known.

This is to preserve the anonymity of the charged players.

It also means if they are found guilty, they can argue for any suspensions to be backdated to when they were charged late last year.

Playing in the pre-season would end the backdating option.

“It’s been very disappointing what’s happened in the last two years and the way our football club has been treated,” Hird said.

“We hope we get the chance to be able to get on and do what we do best – and that’s play football.”

When Hird announced his Federal Court appeal last year, there was widespread speculation the club was about to sack him.

Eventually, Hird stayed and last year’s caretaker coach Mark Thompson left the club.

– AAP