‘Does he want to?’ Bombers boss responds to Hird link after shock twist in Clarko fallout

With Alastair Clarkson committing to North Melbourne, James Hird has emerged as a “serious” contender for Essendon’s coaching role, reports the Herald Sun.

Hird returned to club land this year in a part-time leadership advisor/match day role at GWS following his Bombers departure midway through the 2015 season during the infamous supplements saga.

The report states the 49-year old in recent days emerged a contender to coach the Bombers, with incumbent boss’ Ben Rutten future to be discussed by the club’s board on Sunday.

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Essendon president addresses coach drama | 13:34

However speaking on Friday to address to the coaching situation, new president David Barham wasn’t willing to speculate on Hird’s return.

“I’m not sure what ‘Hirdy’s got to do with it to be honest, no one has spoken to ‘Hirdy’,” Barham told reporters.

Asked if Hird was a chance to coach Essendon next year, Barham said: “Does he want to?”

It comes as RSN radio host Adam White said he thinks the spectre of Hird is hanging over the club.

“I think a lot of that has never left. There’s the romantics, there’s the obsessive types when it comes to James,” he said on Friday.

Clarko was hot on North back in May | 02:17

“I think the reality is there is a very strong chance that James Hird will get back involved the Essendon Football Club in some capacity at some point.

“That might not necessarily be as coach.”

Rutten, who’s contracted for one more season, is expected to speak with family about his next move ahead of what could be his last game in charge of the Bombers in Saturday night’s clash against Richmond.

Essendon’s treatment of its coach has been widely criticised including Rutten’s manager Adam Ramanauskas calling it “fundamentally not right.”

The Bombers are in crisis mode after Clarkson’s decision to join the Roos on a five-year deal over Essendon to put an end to an extraordinary coaching saga that’s dominated headlines this week.