JAMES Hird says his impending return to the club as senior coach after Essendon's 2014 season won't distract the players or interim coach Mark Thompson.
Hird has been suspended for the 2014 season after overseeing asupplements program that went horribly wrong and saw the club fined andjettisoned from last year's finals series. His assistant Mark Thompsonhas taken the reins in his absence.
"This season, it's pretty clear to Bomberand myself that Bomber's the coach for 2014 and once season 2014 finishes interms of our last game, then I'll take over as head coach," he said on Essendon's club program The Hangar on Tuesday night on Fox Footy.
"But until 2014finishes in terms of games, Bomber will be the head coach. Of course, anythingthat Bomber needs when I come back, I'm here to help him.
"One of the advantages, if there are any, ofnot being the head coach for 2014 is really getting a head start for 2015 overevery other club. I think the fact we can focus on 2015, put the list together,make sure we're prepared for the trade period, the draft period ... and as Isaid, if Bomber needs anything to help him around the place, I'dlove to help.
"I can't see where there'd be a distractionin that. The players are clear, I'm clear, Bomber's clear and our supporters arepretty clear, so I think they're really the people that matter."
A defiant Hird said he has no plans of ending his coachingcareer and is "counting down the days' of his suspension.
Despite media speculation suggesting Hird will not be seen again as a senior AFL coach - and his colleagues calling for a compulsory coaching licence to ensure senior coaches have served an appropriate apprenticeship before their appointment - the 1996 Brownlow medallist and Essendon great said he was not planning a self-imposed exile when his suspension was over.
"My passion for coaching? I can't wait to come back," Hird said.
"Yeah, obviously counting down the days. I think it's less than six months now to come back and can't wait to come back and coach this football club again and coach the players and reward the supporters for all the faith they have put in our football club."
Hird will spend the next four months at an elite business school in France, studying for an Masters of Business Adminstration that he says will help him be a better coach when he returns to Essendon.
"I'm meeting a lot of people from around the world, a lot of different business types, a lot of different ideas on business. I think it's great to go and expand your brain, expand your world and see what's out there," he said.
"Specifically as a coach, there's a very detailed part about leadership in there, about business, about corporate governance even. There's a lot that will help me be part of the management team at Essendon and help coach the players."
Certainly, Bombers fans are staying true to their besieged club which now has more than 50,000 members, just the third time in the club's history that it has passed that number. And the Bombers have said they are targeting 60,000 members this year.
"Look, I don't think anyone has probably experienced in terms of football what we've had to experience and it has been a very difficult time," he said.
"[But] the Essendon fans throughout the last two-and-half years have been incredible.
"When we walked back into the club at the end of 2010 to now, they've been amazing.
"Obviously the Essendon fans want to know what's going on and we've been able to talk to them at some stages about that but really in terms of Essendon fans you couldn't ask for anything more. I think it speaks for why we are a great club and why we will continue to be a great club."
Hird's suspension will end at round 23 this season and it has been reported that he will be welcomed back to the coach's box for that game against old rival Carlton.
"The players are fantastic. I think the players and supporters, that's what the life-blood of a football club are and you talk about supporters how great they've been to get behind the club, the players to get behind the club, recommit to the club at the end of last year, to train their backsides off – obviously I haven't been around the club – but just hearing [that] enthusiasm in their voice for season 2014, you wish them all the best. It's very exciting when you come up to a new season.
"The 2014 season will be a great one for the Essendon Football Club. We will win plenty of games and we will see why we are a very good football club."
"[But] the Essendon fans throughout the last two-and-half years have been incredible.
"When we walked back into the club at the end of 2010 to now, they've been amazing.
"Obviously the Essendon fans want to know what's going on and we've been able to talk to them at some stages about that but really in terms of Essendon fans you couldn't ask for anything more. I think it speaks for why we are a great club and why we will continue to be a great club."
Hird's suspension will end at round 23 this season and it has been reported that he will be welcomed back to the coach's box for that game against old rival Carlton.
"The players are fantastic. I think the players and supporters, that's what the life-blood of a football club are and you talk about supporters how great they've been to get behind the club, the players to get behind the club, recommit to the club at the end of last year, to train their backsides off – obviously I haven't been around the club – but just hearing [that] enthusiasm in their voice for season 2014, you wish them all the best. It's very exciting when you come up to a new season.
"The 2014 season will be a great one for the Essendon Football Club. We will win plenty of games and we will see why we are a very good football club."
