James Hird's decision to defy his club and potentially prolong his players' anti-doping battle in appealing last month's Federal Court decision looks to have ended his coaching career at Essendon.
Bombers chairman Paul Little is understood to have lost patience with his recalcitrant coach and was scheduled to hold an emergency board meeting via phone hook-up early on Thursday to rule on Hird's decision to act against the advice of his club.
Little and his chief executive Xavier Campbell are understood to have repeatedly urged the coach to abandon his legal battle but on Wednesday night Hird had refused insisting he was acting upon a matter of principle. Until this week Hird had claimed his legal action was in the interests of his players.
Hird told Channel Seven on Wednesday that he hoped to remain as coach. But on Wednesday night he remained defiant.
CEO Campbell could not guarantee Hird's future adding that the board would make a ruling later in the week.
The club held lengthy crisis talks with the coach at Little's South Yarra office on Wednesday reportedly involving senior players Jobe Watson, Brendon Goddard and Heath Hocking. Hird stood firm on his decision to go it alone without the support of the club.
Should Essendon sack Hird it will look at his contractual rights. With the club facing a $1.25 million pay out to the coach and club legend the view even before this latest fall-out was that Hird could have breached his contract should the players receive doping bans or even receive infraction notices.
And Hird's removal would see the club act quickly to appoint caretaker Mark Thompson as coach. Thompson has told the club he would not remain in an assistant's role and on Tuesday his manager Michael Quinlan approached the Gold Coast Suns expressing Thompson's interest in the senior coaching role. Thompson had discussed the Suns job with his former colleague and one-time Suns assistant Ken Hinkley.
The Suns had sacked Guy McKenna on Tuesday and made that decision public the following day but has stressed it would not immediately appoint Thompson without a thorough interview process. There has also been strong speculation this week that Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney, although contracted, is also under pressure to retain his position. But Hird's decision to lodge an appeal — that move was expected to happen on Thursday — appears to have been the final straw for Little.
The club was also furious that Hird's decision came on the day of its Crichton Medal Count which Hird had planned to attend before the club instructed him to stay away.
Little's address to the best and fairest audience included an explanation that the Bombers would not appeal the Middleton decision despite strong legal advice it would succeed.
Little explained the club was acting purely in the interests of its players and their families.
"Our priority throughout this process has always been our players," he said. "As a result, the board has decided not to pursue an appeal against the Federal Court judgment. "We are of the strong belief that if there is no appeal, the show cause process will recommence immediately and both ASADA and the AFL will undertake to move with as much expedition as possible. It is now time to accept the Federal Court's decision and move on."
Fairfax Media understands the club had approached the AFL and the players' association in a bid to ensure that the players' battle to clear their names would proceed despite Hird's decision.
Normal procedure would dictate that an appeal against the legality of the ASADA investigation by Hird would hold up the re-delivery of show cause notices to the players.
