RIVAL clubs have shown interest in Essendon free agent Courtenay Dempsey, who is awaiting a contract offer from the Bombers.
Dempsey wants to stay at the club where he has played 119 games since being drafted in 2005, but as an unrestricted free agent he can join another club without a trade.
His manager, Shane Casley from ESP, has recently been overseas for several weeks but said he been in contact with the club to progress discussions.
"I have spoken to [Essendon list manager] Adrian Dodoro since I've been back this week and had a good chat," Casley told AFL.com.au.
"Obviously they've got some things they need to do over the next couple of weeks in appointing a coach, and that is probably going to determine what offers they put to us and whether we accept them.
"At this stage we just want to see how all that plays out and I think both sides are happy with that. There's been a little bit of interest from other clubs so we'll just wait and see what happens with Essendon and go from there."
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Dempsey played 13 games this year before his season was cut short by a four-game suspension for his dangerous tackle on Richmond's Brett Deledio in round 22.
He will be unavailable until round four next season, but Casley said he expected the Bombers to soon present a new contract to Dempsey.
"I'm pretty sure there'll be an offer to him, but I think they have some other priorities at the moment," Casley said.
"Once that's settled down we'll sit down and have some meaningful discussions and get some sort of offer from them. I think that will happen over the next week or two."
Dempsey has struggled to reach consistent form over the past two seasons, spending chunks of time at VFL level.
He moved forward late in the year for the Bombers and played his best game of the season against Gold Coast in round 21, when he gathered 19 disposals and kicked 2.3.
"He's a very, very loyal guy and he's always indicated to me he wants to play his whole career at Essendon," Casley said.
"He's played his whole footy career at Essendon, but in saying that we need to assess any offer we get and go from there. Certainly his first preference will be to stay.
There are more than 10 Essendon players whose futures at the club remain uncertain heading into next month's trade and free agency period.
Midfielder Brent Stanton, another restricted free agent, is in contract talks with the Bombers, with Alex Browne, Will Hams, Elliott Kavanagh, Nick O'Brien, Tayte Pears and Ariel Steinberg among the other players yet to sign on for 2016.
Jake Melksham and Jake Carlisle have requested to be traded, Lauchlan Dalgleish and Kurt Aylett have already been delisted, and Dustin Fletcher, Paul Chapman and Jason Winderlich have retired.
Essendon is expected to announce its new senior coach in October, with West Coast premiership coach John Worsfold the raging favourite to take on the role.
