THE EXODUSfrom Essendon continued on Monday with assistant coach Sean Wellman announcinghis departure. 

The 2000premiership defender had worked under James Hird for three years as defensivecoach and said in a statement he would be leaving football entirely. 

He addedthat the cloud over the Bombers this year because of the ASADA investigationand subsequent sanctions played no role in his decision.

"Thisdecision does not have anything to do with the events of this year, and while Iwanted to help the club work through the challenges ahead, the timing topursue further study and business interests was right for me and at a point inmy career that I couldn’t ignore," Wellman said.

"I'vethoroughly enjoyed my time coaching at Essendon.

"The playinglist and people who work at the football club are fantastic people and I'll besupporting the players and the club from the stands next season andbeyond."

Wellman played 34games for Adelaide in 1994 and 1995 before joining the Bombers as part of thecelebrated trade that also brought Paul Barnard to Windy Hill, sent Paul Salmonto Hawthorn and Darren Jarman to Adelaide.

He played 178games for the Bombers until his retirement and was an assistant coach at theWestern Bulldogs and Melbourne before reuniting with Hird at Essendon.

He annoyed theDemons by leaving while under contract and his departure led to a change in theemployment contracts for assistant coaches.

He worked as apart-time podiatrist while playing football.

To say thatEssendon's coaching structure for next year is in a state of flux would be amassive understatement.

Hird is suspendedfor a year, senior assistant Mark Thompson has ruled himself out as thestand-in senior coach and another assistant Simon Goodwin is openly hawkinghimself to other clubs.