ESSENDON chairman Paul Little has told members his board was committed to restoring relations with the AFL after conceding the relationship had hit rock-bottom during the past two years.
Speaking at Monday night's AGM, Little empathised with members who directed their anger at AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and the League's decisions over the supplement saga, but said the club was committed to moving forward.
In fact, he said, the club was in "the best place we've been in the last 24 months" and most of the information the club had about the supplements saga was in the public domain.
One member called on a vote of no-confidence against Demetriou but Little said the club must rebuild its relationships with the League.
"I'm not sure that given we're striving so hard to put the events of 2012-13 behind us that it would be in our best interests to convey a message of no confidence (in Demetriou)," he said in response.
Earlier, Little admitted the practices and procedures in place during Essendon's 2012 season were inappropriate and exposed players to unacceptable risks.
He said the Bombers accepted full responsibility for their failures, accepted the AFL's sanctions and apologised for allowing the club to be in such a position.
However, the chairman once again said the club remained confident – based on existing information – that its players did not ingest anything harmful, or take anything illegal or 'performance enhancing'.
Little conceded the investigation remained ongoing.
He criticised the former head of WADA John Fahey for stating that it was 'a matter of time' before Essendon players received infraction notices, with Fahey later admitting it was a personal view rather than one based on detailed information.
However, Little said it was not yet possible for the club to tell its side of the story in full.
"The details surrounding what happened are complex and the sensitivities of the investigation and any legal ramifications, make it problematic to provide much of the information at this stage.
"In addition, without a final report from ASADA, there are still specific details that remain unknown to the club. We also must protect our players’ confidentiality and respect the integrity of the investigation, which is still, to some extent, ongoing."
The club also revealed it had spent $4 million in costs related to the supplements saga but Little thanked members for their support. Further legal costs had been budgeted for in 2014.
Only one member was a dissenting voice during question time, expressing his disappointment at the club forcing members to tick an opt-out clause in correspondence if they wanted to avoid making a donation, and asking for a new approach towards members.
The election of former premiership player Simon Madden to the board was confirmed and he will be joined by Phil Pryor, who was re-elected.
Just before the meeting began, suspended head coach James Hird made his appearance, which was met with applause. The former playing great raised his right hand to acknowledge the reception as he took his seat.
A League spokesman told AFL.com.au Hird was allowed to attend the function, but he could not act in any official role.
In August, the AFL penalised Essendon for the inadequate management and governance of its supplements program after a long investigation.
It was barred from competing in the 2013 finals, fined, received draft penalties and Hird was suspended for 12 months.
Other club officials, including senior assistant coach Mark Thompson and football manager Danny Corcoran, were also penalised.
Little confirmed at the AGM that the Bombers' board had agreed that if Hird were to be suspended, as he subsequently was, he would receive renumeration for the term of his ban.
The terms of this payment had to be re-negotiated last week after the AFL indicated it did not expect Hird to be paid while he served the suspension in 2014.
Both the AFL and Essendon came to a controversial agreement on Friday allowing the Bombers to pay Hird his base salary of $750,000 upfront before the end of the 2013 calendar year.
Little made the point that there had been no similar request made by the AFL for Corcoran to not be paid while serving his four-month suspension.
The Essendon chairman also outlined changes to be made in personnel and structure to ensure governance was improving following the supplements saga.
Little told members the club had interviewed 20 candidates applying to take over the CEO's job from interim chief Ray Gunston.
He said Essendon hoped to make an appointment soon but did not impose a deadline.
