James Hird has held onto his job as Essendon coach – for now – despite defying the wishes of the AFL club to continue his legal battle against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Hird lodged papers with the Federal Court on Thursday against the decision by Justice Middleton last month that the joint investigation by AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority was legal.

Essendon have decided not to appeal the decision, with Hird further distancing himself from the club by taking the opposite approach.

The Essendon board met at the club’s training headquarters at Tullamarine on Thursday, before deciding to reconvene in the coming days to consider Hird’s position.

“We would have preferred James had not appealed,” said chairman Paul Little.

“He took the decision to do that and we’re still talking to him about that decision.”

Earlier on Thursday, Hird released a statement detailing his reasons for breaking ranks with Essendon and its playing group by continuing to pursue legal action.

“I have been advised and believe that there are strong reasons why that decision is incorrect and that this is the proper and appropriate course to vindicate the legal rights of the EFC and its players,” he said.

“The challenge to the lawfulness of the joint investigation was and is an important step in showing that the Essendon Football Club, its players and staff were submitted to a compromised investigation and were treated unfairly.

“If we don’t appeal our players may be stained forever by the innuendo, misconceptions and falsities that resulted from an investigation that we believe was conducted unlawfully.

“It is important that an investigation based on unlawfully gathered information never occurs again to any person, sporting club or organisation.”