STEVE IRWIN - IRWIN'S MANAGER: 'MEMORIAL WILL NOT BE A CIRCUS'

IRWIN'S MANAGER: 'MEMORIAL WILL NOT BE A CIRCUS'

LATEST: STEVE IRWIN's former manager has warned press not to make the late naturalist's memorial a "media circus". The public ceremony takes place on Wednesday (20SEP06) at Irwin's 'Crocoseum' at the Australia Zoo. However, JOHN STAINTON, the CROCODILE HUNTER star's manager, producer and close pal, is desperate to ensure the VIP attendees and huge media interest don't spoil the day. He says, "I really don't want to make a publicity spectacle out of who is going to be doing anything or who is going to be appearing and turn it into a circus. "It's not a circus big-top thing and it's been hard enough just getting it together without having to use publicity to make it work." He also warned Irwin's widow TERRI and daughter BINDI may still be too upset to speak at the memorial, as planned. He said, "I don't want to put her through any stress at all. Steve wouldn't want that. "A decision on whether Terri or Bindi Irwin will speak will be made on the day. There's no pressure on anybody." Irwin died earlier this month (04SEP06) after being stung in the chest by a stingray while diving on the Great Barrier Reef.