ESSENDON'S board met on Thursday night, but the club is yet to announce a decision regarding James Hird's coaching aspirations this season.
Hird arrived back in Melbourne late on Tuesday night after embarking on a study tour in France.
The club great is serving a 12-month ban for his part in the Bombers' 2012 supplements program.
Hird will be free to return to the coach's box for Essendon's round 23 clash against Carlton on the last weekend in August.
There has been much speculation over what role Hird will have in the final stages of the 2014 season, if any.
Directors met at Windy Hill on Thursday, with chairman Paul Little revealing nothing.
"It's private," Little told the Nine Network after leaving the meeting.
"I've got no comment to make."
Hird fronted the media on Wednesday, saying he'd "definitely" like to return this season but was yet to speak to his interim replacement and former assistant Mark Thompson about it.
Essendon is enjoying a purple patch under Thompson, an impressive three-match winning streak starting amid the club's court stoush with ASADA.
Midfielder Dyson Heppell said the uncertainty over who will be coaching the club in round 23 was not an issue for Essendon's players.
"We've dealt with much greater distractions than this. I don't think it'll worry us one bit," Heppell told the Footy Show.
"The club are discussing that (whether Hird will return to coaching this season) and we're just focusing on footy."
The Bombers are seventh on the ladder and have the weekend off.
A Federal Court trial between Essendon and Hird against ASADA, launched after the anti-doping body issued show-cause notices to 34 current and former players, is scheduled to begin in August.
