The issue of James Hird’s future at Essendon is on hold and red-hot.

After the AFL club’s board held crisis talks on Friday, chairman Paul Little said they would speak to Hird before deciding what to do next.

The suspended coach is overseas on a study trip and Little expects the Bombers will not talk to him until next week.

In the meantime, debate will rage about whether he should return as Essendon coach once his 12-month suspension ends in late August.

His wife Tania sparked a furore when she gave a TV interview and again blasted the AFL.

Apart from reigniting issues the Bombers are desperate to put behind them, her interview was also aired the night before Essendon opened the season with a 39-point win over North Melbourne.

Little revealed pre-game that Essendon had heard rumours about the interview, but had been unable to confirm it.

He added that no-one had been able to make contact with Tania Hird since Thursday night.

“The relationship has been on better footing, but … we’re not jumping to any conclusions,” Little said.

“It’s just made the whole job of remaining focussed on the future more difficult.”

Little was careful when asked if this latest controversy had opened the door for Essendon to reconsider the two-year contract that Hird has to coach the team once his suspension ends.

“I’m not sure about a door being opened, but there are certain expectations on any senior coach that we have in relation to what we expect from them and what we expect from the people who surround them,” Little told Channel Seven on Friday night,” he said.

“If we’re not getting what we expect, then clearly that’s something that needs to be dealt with.”

Interim coach Mark Thompson said he told his players and staff to ignore the issue on Friday and concentrate on preparing for the season opener.

“We’ll let the committee and the board deal with that when they do – I think enough has been already been said from (chairman) Paul Little about what the next couple of days look like,” he said post-match.

Asked if the issue had frustrated him, he replied “I didn’t want to even go there to get upset.

“I had a day where I just had a lot of messages – all my friends in the world texting me to congratulate me and wish me (the) best.

“So I was busy replying to them … I was busy enough without worrying about that stuff.”