JAMES Hird has returned to work at Essendon, adding his voice to the club chorus wanting caretaker coach Mark Thompson to stay on for the 2015 season.

Hird's 12-month League-imposed ban for his role in the Bombers' controversial supplements program ended on Monday.

But he is not actively working with the team, as Thompson will only step down as head coach when Essendon's 2014 campaign ends.

"I caught up with him today. It was all good," Thompson told Fox Footy.

"I'm not sure what he did at the club, but he'll probably have a chat tomorrow with the staff and the players."

Seventh-placed Essendon is almost certain to play in the finals for the first time in three years, having been banned from last year's finals.

What happens next for two-time premiership mentor Thompson is anyone's guess.

"No," a tight-lipped Thompson said on Monday night when asked if he had made up his mind about the future, having a week earlier noted he did not "want to just walk out and leave this team".
 
Earlier on Monday, Hird said he would try to convince Thompson to remain at the club next year. 

He told reporters his focus was on 2015, with Thompson to continue as senior coach for the remainder of the 2014 season, including the finals campaign.

"The roles are pretty well defined - 'Bomber' is the coach until the end of the year and he has done a fantastic job," Hird said.

"I'm so proud of the players, they way they have played and the whole club, the way they have performed the whole year.

"It won't be hard, I'm concentrating on 2015 and there is a lot of work to do.

"We'd all like 'Bomber' to stay on, particularly, I'd like him to stay on - he is obviously a great coach, he's been terrific for the players this year and for the whole club this year.

"It's not just his decision or my decision, it is also the club's decision - but everybody at Essendon would like him to stay."

Chief executive Xavier Campbell welcomed Hird back to the club and insisted the players supported his return.

Campbell was also hopeful Essendon would be able to accommodate both Thompson and Hird next season.

"We've made no secret that we will sit down with 'Bomber' at the end of the year," he said.

"We've been very transparent with that, we're open to what that looks like.

"James won't have a match day role [in 2014]. We didn't want to have any distractions for the players. 

"We thought that was in the best interest of the players and for Mark, and James thought his role was best suited to planning for 2015. 

"He'll be re-establishing relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally, coteries and our commercial partners.

Dons CEO Xavier Campbell and Neil Craig show James Hird the club's new digs. Picture: Getty Images







Campbell also distanced the club from developments in the NRL that last week saw 17 players from the Cronulla Sharks' 2011 squad accept backdated suspensions for unknowingly taking prohibited substances. 

"Fundamentally they're very different cases, and I'm not going to comment on anything in relation to that," he said.

"It doesn't change anything."
 
When Hird was handed his sanction by the AFL, Essendon was still based at Windy Hill, meaning Monday was the first time Hird had set foot inside the club's new facilities at Tullamarine.

He was given an official tour by director of coaching Neil Craig and Campbell. 

Seventh-placed Essendon is almost certain to play in the finals for the first time in three years, having been banned from last year's September action.

Hird's suspension was part of an AFL-imposed penalty over the club's supplements saga, which is now before the courts.

The club has challenged the legality of the joint AFL-ASADA investigation carried out by anti-doping body.