Essendon has confirmed suspended coach James Hird will not return to the club this year when he returns from his 12-month suspension on August 25th.
“We have all agreed that when James is eligible to return to the club on 25 August, James’ focus will be entirely on the 2015 season – he will not be in the coaching box or have an active coaching role at training,” said chairman Paul Little in a statement.
Herd commented earlier this week that he was looking forward to returning to the club as soon as he could, but following talks with interim coach Mark Thompson and senior Bomber officials including football manager Neil Craig and chief executive Xavier Campbell, the club has decided not to involve him for the rest of the Bombers’ 2014 season.
“As much as I would dearly love to have jumped straight back into working with the team, I am determined that whatever role I play should in no way act as a distraction from the 2014 campaign,” Hird said via the statement.
Currently serving a 12-month suspension for his role in the 2012 Essendon supplement scandal, Fairfax reports Hird has committed to to the club for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The Bombers are currently seventh on the AFL ladder and Thompson will continue to lead them for the remainder of the year.
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