Essendon coach James Hird reportedly turned down a chance to have three of his Bombers colleagues cleared by pleading guilty to an AFL charge over the supplements saga.

The offer was made by the AFL before the Bombers, Hird, Essendon senior assistant Mark Thompson, football manager Danny Corcoran and club doctor Bruce Reid were all charged by the league on Tuesday night with bringing the game into disrepute.

The AFL told Hird’s lawyers that if Hird pleaded guilty, they would charge only him and the club, meaning Thompson, Corcoran and Reid would avoid charges, the Seven Network reported on Thursday night.

But Hird rejected the offer, meaning the club, him and the three other officials were all charged, although the Bombers plan to vigorously defend themselves and their representatives.

All parties are scheduled to face an AFL Commission hearing on August 26, although there is speculation the Bombers will instead seek a court injunction.

That has prompted former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett to call on the AFL to set the Bombers an ultimatum.

Kennett says the club shouldn’t be allowed to play in the AFL next season if the saga isn’t resolved by the end of November.

The former Victorian premier says the AFL must put the reputation of the code first, even if it means playing with just 17 teams next year.

“I don’t like courts,” Kennett told Melbourne’s SEN radio on Thursday.

“I do think there is a circuit-breaker.

“If I was the AFL Commission I would say to Essendon `You do whatever you like. But if this is not resolved by the end of November, you will not as a team be competing next year.’

“We are not going to have 17 clubs and the reputation of our code become the top priority next year when we’re trying to play a competition.

“It’s just too costly.

“The AFL and Essendon are dragging down the reputation of the code.”

The commission has the power to hand out suspensions and fines, and strip the Bombers of premiership points and draft picks, should the charges be sustained.