Essendon president Paul Little says the AFL club want James Hird to return as their coach if he serves a suspension as punishment for last year’s supplements saga.
Little said the Bombers, who are in negotiations with the AFL over their penalty, will attend a scheduled AFL Commission hearing on Monday.
He is confident the league and the club are close to reaching a “middle ground” on penalties which both parties can accept, although he said he could not guarantee it would be achieved before the finals.
The sanctions are likely to include the Bombers being stripped of premiership points and their finals berth and being fined heavily, as well as a ban for Hird.
But Little would not confirm any of those details, saying he did not want to pre-empt the outcome.
Asked if Saturday night’s game against Carlton could be Hird’s last in charge of the club, Little said he did not believe so.
“I’m certain that that’s not being requested at this stage, so I would say no to that,” Little told the Seven Network pre-match.
He said the Bombers would want Hird back in charge if he had to serve a 12-month ban.
“Absolutely and that would be our preference,” Little said.
He said he did not want to answer on Hird’s behalf as to what would be an appropriate sanction for the coach.
Little also confirmed the AFL had given the club the option of accepting a penalty on their own behalf, while leaving Hird and club doctor Bruce Reid to battle the AFL separately, if they chose to.
“At this stage all I can say to you is it is a package (being negotiated between the Bombers and the AFL) other than the option that’s been given for James or Bruce Reid to opt out of that should they wish to,” Little said.
“But we’re trying very hard to get the package agreed.”