Catalans Dragons are likely to face stern competition to retain the services of out-of-contract captain Greg Bird.

On Wednesday the Australian star escaped jail after his conviction for reckless wounding was quashed in a Sydney court.

The 25-year-old was sentenced to minimum of eight months behind bars earlier this year for glassing his girlfriend Katie Milligan during an altercation.

He immediately appealed, allowing him to finish the 2009 Super League season with the French club, and a judge today ruled in his favour after a three-day hearing.

The Dragons have offered the player a new two-year contract but Australian side Gold Coast Titans have also expressed interest. Former club Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys could also be in the reckoning.

Dragons general manager Christophe Levy said: "We are very happy for Greg and Katie. It has been a tough year for them.

"This action has changed their lives.

"We are lucky to have had Greg playing for us at the Catalans Dragons.

"Now we know he is going to be in high demand but the salary cap could be a problem for the Australian clubs.

"We are keeping a spot available."

Coach Kevin Walters is keen for Bird to return to the Perpignan-based club and added that he is happy to give the player time to make a decision.

Walters said: "This clears the way for him to play rugby league but where he ends up remains a mystery.

"We're like the other clubs, just waiting to have a chat with him.

"We've saved a spot for him on our overseas quota and if he chooses to play for us that would be fantastic.

"We may have an inside running because he played here last year.

"He's a world-class player so you'd expect other clubs to be interested but we're prepared to give him extra time."

Bird was released by Cronulla after the incident involving Milligan.

He then agreed a deal to join Bradford Bulls but that move collapsed due to difficulties in obtaining a UK visa.

It was then Catalans stepped in and he went on to play an influential role as the Dragons reached the Super League play-offs for the first time.

His appeal has been monitored closely by a number of clubs and the Titans were quick to make their move once news of his acquittal broke.

Titans chief executive Michael Searle said: "We have allowed court proceedings to take their natural course and now that they have been completed we will endeavour to speak as a club and with Greg and his partner about his plans for the future.

"The club has a good track record of working with players who have had previous off-field issues and we are interested in talking with Greg and his partner to see where he believes his future may be headed.

"We will also consult with the NRL throughout this process."

Titans coach John Cartwright added: "It's been out there that Greg wants to get out of Sydney, there's not many clubs that he would like to play his football at and I think ours was one of the clubs that he said he'd like to play at.

"At this stage of the year it's all about salary cap and whether he wants to play for an opportunity."

The NRL say they will keep a close eye on the situation and have suggested any return to the competition would depend on a prospective club meeting a number of requirements.

NRL chief executive David Gallop said: "If a club looks to sign Greg then clearly we need to look at the issue of registration of a contract.

"There'd be a range of factors that we would want some information about.

"Clearly that club would need to be thinking in terms of how they're going to help him manage his situation.

"He's been through a difficult time no doubt but he's had issues before.

"He would fall into a category of a player that we would be looking for any prospective club to give us an idea of how they're going to deal with him."