JOHN Worsfold will be the next coach of Essendon.
 
The Bombers are understood to have settled on the 2006 West Coast premiership coach as James Hird's permanent replacement and are poised to make an announcement in the coming days.
 
Worsfold has long been the favourite to win the job after warming to a return to coaching and AFL.com.au understands he has beaten a small field of candidates after a final round of discussions.
 
The Bombers have denied their decision is made but AFL.com.au understands Worsfold and the club only had to finalise terms this week.  
 
Former Western Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney and Collingwood assistant Scott Burns were reportedly among the final three candidates and still in the frame earlier this week.
 
On Monday night Worsfold said the Bombers' process was drawing to a close and he was excited about the prospect of taking the reins after two seasons out of senior coaching.
 
His role as director of coaching at Adelaide in the second half of this season, following the death of close friend Phil Walsh, reignited his passion for coaching.
 
Speaking to Fox Footy he suggested he was hungry to return to coaching.
 
"There have certainly been some assumptions about where I am coming from, but those assumptions have been made without really talking to me," he said.
 
"The selection panel has had the chance to listen to me first-hand."