FORMER Crow and dual SANFL premiership coach Nathan Bassett believed he was set for an assistant coaching role at North Melbourne next year, before the offer was mysteriously torched.
Bassett, who last weekend took Norwood to its second consecutive flag, told Gillette AFL Trade Radio he believed "for a day" that he would coach at the Kangaroos in 2014.
He said the club then pulled out of the deal and gave him little indication of the reason why.
The former Adelaide full-back said he had since talked to several other AFL clubs and, although strongly linked to Essendon, denied the Bombers had offered him a position.
"I was reasonably close," Bassett said of his dealings with the Kangaroos.
"What it was [that caused the offer to be taken away] I'm not exactly sure but it doesn't matter now.
"[I'm] still working through what's happening next year for me.
"It wouldn't be a bad time for me to end up in the AFL system if I want to be an AFL coach at some stage.
"I'm speaking to a couple of clubs at the moment and then if someone offers you a job, you either take it or you don't."
Bassett has overseen the development of draft prospect James Aish at Norwood, making Aish a dual SANFL premiership player before his 18th birthday.
Aish is hotly tipped to join Melbourne or St Kilda inside the top five picks at the upcoming NAB AFL Draft.
His Norwood coach said the 17-year-old would prove a massive asset to whoever was lucky enough to draft him.
"He brings high professionalism, he's a lovely well-balanced young man," Bassett said.
"I've known him since he was 13, just hanging around our footy club. His dad's the chaplin at our footy club and he was a terrific SANFL player as well.
"He's a great person.
"He'll play, I imagine, right from the start and he'll make great decisions.
"One club's going to be lucky to have him."
