FORMER Melbourne coach Dean Bailey has emerged as a possible candidate to be Essendon's interim coach next year.
AFL.com.au understands the club has discussed Bailey as an option to fill the role of suspended senior coach James Hird.
It is unclear if Bailey, an assistant coach at Adelaide, will interview for the role now that the club's formal process to appoint a replacement has begun.
The Crows were not aware if the Bombers had approached Bailey when contacted on Tuesday. The 46-year-old, who is the strategy and innovation coach at Adelaide, is overseas.
Former Bomber Mark Harvey has also been strongly linked to the job.
The Bombers also have an assistant's position to fill after backline coach Sean Wellman this week announced he was leaving the club.
Bailey has links to the Bombers, having played 53 games for the club between 1986-92 before becoming a development coach at Windy Hill under Kevin Sheedy.
He went on to be an assistant at Port Adelaide before being appointed for the senior role at Melbourne in 2007.
He coached the Demons from 2008 through to round 19, 2011, when he was sacked following a 186-point defeat to Geelong.
As head coach of Melbourne when it was accused of losing to gain draft selections, Bailey was this year suspended for 16 weeks for acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the competition.
Essendon has agreed to a two-year contract extension for Hird once his 12-month ban imposed by the AFL Commission ends next August.
On Monday, the Bombers announced the five-person panel which will appoint the interim coach for next season.
It comprises football director Chris Heffernan, interim chief executive Ray Gunston, AFL Coaches Association boss Danny Frawley, former Richmond and Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace and the club's human resources manager Hailey Grimes.
"The selection panel has met and set the framework for the upcoming recruitment process," Gunston said.
"The club is confident the advisory panel has the experience and skills set required to select the best possible candidate for the job.
"The process will be comprehensive and is expected to be completed in the next 3-4 weeks."
