Thompson has taken indefinite leave from his position due to exhaustion, but Geelong’s administrators have asked him to decide by the weekend whether he wants to remain in charge for the 2011 season.
“Both Mark and Gary [Ablett] have committed to coming [to the best and fairest] tomorrow night, and both will be talking,” Cats chief executive Brian Cook said at Skilled Stadium on Wednesday.
“For Gary, it’s his farewell speech and hopefully for Bomber it will be… a second coming. Who knows?”
While a number of newspapers continue to report that Thompson will soon be appointed to James Hird’s revamped coaching panel at Essendon, Cook does not believe that will happen.
“My understanding, if I may repeat it, is that he’ll do one of two things next year. He’ll coach Geelong or he’ll take up a role in property development,” Cook said.
“I don’t believe he will have any part in Essendon.”
Geelong skipper Cameron Ling said the news that Thompson was considering stepping down from his position had come as a shock.
“I was surprised because Bomber had coached so well and so passionately right up until the end of the season,” Ling said.
“But to hear that was tired and a bit worn out is, I suppose, not too surprising because he’s been coaching for 11 years.”
Ling has not spoken to Thompson in recent days, but he said the players remained right behind their coach.
“Bomber’s always got the support of the playing group, no question about that and he’d know that,” Ling added.
