JAMES Hird will not have any coaching role in 2014 after agreeing that his return to Essendon should not be a distraction.
 
Hird, whose 12-month suspension ends on August 25, will not take on any active coaching duties this year – on match day or during the week – and instead use the time to prepare for his return as the senior coach in 2015.
 
The club's decision was announced on Friday after a meeting between Hird, Essendon chairman Paul Little, newly appointed chief executive Xavier Campbell, football performance manager Neil Craig and stand-in coach Mark Thompson.

"We have all agreed that when James is eligible to return to the club on August 25, James' focus will be entirely on the 2015 season – he will not be in the coaching box or have an active coaching role at training," Little said in a statement. 


"In that time period between 25 August until our final game of the season, James will take the opportunity to begin planning the upcoming pre-season, list management, recruiting and preparation for 2015 away from the club."

Little said the clarification came so there was "no room for confusion or speculation" in the final weeks of the home and away season and if the Bombers make the finals. 

"Everyone at the Essendon Football Club looks forward to welcoming James back to the club when he returns as senior coach for the 2015 season," he said.

Hird, who has joined the club's legal action against ASADA claiming its joint investigation with the AFL was unlawful, said he did not want to draw any attention away from the club's push to the finals.

"As much as I would dearly love to have jumped straight back into working with the team, I am determined that whatever role I play should in no way act as a distraction from the 2014 campaign," Hird said. 

"I would like to congratulate the club on what has been achieved so far this year. In very tough circumstances, the club has demonstrated great strength and resilience."
 
Little also announced Campbell would be the permanent chief executive officer at the club, with the appointment ratified at the club's board meeting on Thursday night.

The Bombers have appointed Xavier Campbell as their new chief executive. Picture: Getty Images



The Bombers had been on a search for a CEO since interim boss Ray Gunston departed last year, when Campbell was promoted to chief operating officer.
 
"Xavier's got a lot of work to do, he's a hard-working individual, and absolutely deserves the faith that the board has now placed in him," Little said.

Campbell, 34, has been a member of the club's senior management team for the past five years, and had worked for Dynamic Sports and Entertainment Group and sports marketing company Octagon before joining the Bombers.
 
"As a club we still face a number of challenges moving forward, but I have full confidence in the direction we are heading as a club," Campbell said.