ESSENDON is expected to this week announce the selection panel charged with finding James Hird's replacement as senior coach.
The Bombers are tipped to confirm the panel members within days, with a mix of internal and external figures likely to fill the spots.
Club great Neale Daniher, who coached Melbourne for 10 seasons between 1998-2007, is already heavily involved with the club's football department review and may be considered as part of the coaching appointment.
Hird departed the club last Tuesday after the Bombers' 112-point loss to Adelaide in round 20, saying he wanted to give the Essendon players clear air to perform without as much focus on his future.
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He had overseen a horror season for the Bombers, who have won just five games for the year and sit in the bottom-four on the ladder.
Interim coach Matthew Egan took the reins on Saturday night as the Bombers lost to Gold Coast by two points at Metricon Stadium, and has indicated he is unlikely to pursue the full-time senior role at this stage.
Essendon's decision to part ways with Hird last week instead of at the end of the season allowed the club to enter the market for a replacement, joining Carlton and Adelaide in the search for a new senior coach.
The Blues could announce Mick Malthouse's successor as early as this week, with stand-in coach John Barker and Hawthorn assistant Brendon Bolton the standout candidates.
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Fremantle's senior development coach and assistant coach Simon Lloyd, former Dockers coach and three-time Essendon premiership player Mark Harvey and Collingwood assistant Scott Burns are among the early favourites to fill Essendon's coaching vacancy next year.
West Coast premiership coach John Worsfold has also been linked to the position. Worsfold was hired by the Crows to act as a coaching director after the tragic death of senior coach Phil Walsh earlier this year.
Hird coached 84 games for the Bombers between 2011-2015, with a winning record of 49.4 per cent.
