Hird gone - Egan interim coach, Little gone after WADA appeal. TROLLS WILL BE CARDED

[Marley10]

I couldn't care less about people dancing on Hird's grave but the misogyny on display towards Tania Hird is sickening

I don't understand why people would involve his family. Awful

 

[jmoo wan]

Statement

Today the Club announced its decision to accept James Hird’s resignation as senior coach.

This decision is the culmination of many weeks of open discussion between the Club and James, which ultimately led to James tendering his resignation last night.

Our on field performances in 2015 have clearly been unacceptable. As the season progressed, it has become increasingly apparent to the Board that change was needed.

To his credit, James has always accepted that he is ultimately accountable for the performance of the team.

There have been a number of mitigating factors around our performance in 2015, including injuries to key players and the ASADA / WADA process.

However, across every measure, season 2015 has fallen well short of our expectations, and James’ expectations.

It is time for a fresh start, a point that James recognises.

The players need a fresh voice, our members need a sense of hope and the Club needs to be able to look to 2016 and beyond with a renewed sense of optimism.

On behalf of the Board of the Essendon Football Club, I wish to thank James for being a loyal and dedicated servant of Essendon over the past 25 years.

His love and passion for the Club can never be questioned.

James is also one of the most resilient men I have met. In the midst of unprecedented pressure James has stood tall, and been steadfast throughout in his belief of what was right.

He will forever be remembered as a champion of this Club. A legend.

The man who combined immense talent with fierce competitiveness; loyalty; endurance and a sense of fair play.

A player and a captain who was admired by all; loved by Bomber fans;

James Hird’s place in the history of our club should never be questioned.

I have spent in excess of 2 years working closely with James. We didn't agree on everything, but we always agreed that the players were our no 1 priority.

In relation to his departure, the Board and James have agreed on a negotiated settlement. The terms of this shall remain confidential.

A process for selecting a new coach will be confirmed over coming days, and we will provide details on that process in due course.

In the meantime, Matthew Egan will coach the team for the remainder of the season in a caretaker capacity. Matthew has been an assistant coach at the Club for the last four years, he knows the players intimately and will be supported by the other coaches.

The internal football department review, being conducted by CEO Xavier Campbell, will be finalised in the next month.

The review is broad ranging and has focussed on:
- Structure
- Reporting and Evaluation
- Roles and Responsibilities
- List Management and Recruiting
- And external benchmarking

Finally, I thought it also timely to discuss my own position as Chairman in light of today’s announcement.

When I inherited the role of Chairman, I resolved to see the ASADA investigation through to its conclusion and allow the next Chairman of Essendon clear air to lead this Club into its next great era.

As such I plan to stay on as Chairman of the EFC until I can steer the Club and its players through the final stage of the WADA appeal, which is likely to conclude during 2016.

As discussed, we are close to completing the review of our football operations, which now will include the search for a new senior coach.

Overseeing these changes, together with the orderly transition to a new Chairman, will be my key focus during this period.

Paul Little AO
Chairman

Where did this come from? I'm so sick of being the last to know!

 

[eth-dog]

I think you'll find with that there is no chance Bassett will be at your club next year, that's the word in SA anyway.

My sympathy goes out to the loyal fans throughout this. My SANFL team (my first and strongest footy love) has gone through similar stuff this year with the board making ill thought out decisions leading to disaster on the field (we've only won one game this year, by 3 points against a crows reserves team resting players in the last quarter) and then the coach being sacked/ resigning.

The timing of your decision seems strange but with three clubs looking for a coach you want to do everything to get the best coach you can.

Good, Adelaide or Port can have him.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Wow. Will always be a club legend when he pulled on the red and black long sleeve.

The red and black polo years though, let's resign that to memory.

 

[Marley10]

By the way, we have hijacked every single year of the Hawthorn 3-peat (if it eventuates).

One positive

 

[ManWithNoName]

Where did this come from? I'm so sick of being the last to know!

Get emailed statements by this bloke at the club, it's from being a Flight Plan donor. Usually he sends them out after they've been issued to the public. This time he finally had the goods and gave us a heads up in advance.

 

[Maddogm]

You mean the one bloke who's done his job this year?

Has been horrible at Essendon. Would be the first assistant to go from Essendon if it were up to me.

thankful it's not

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Agree, if he has lost the players than I think it was the right call.

Looking through twitter atm there are a lot of very angry supporters atm.

I don't agree with the decision but I accept it.

If they waited this long the question is why didn't they wait another 3 weeks?

 

[Jobe Watson]

Should've waited until the end of the year, but it's the right decision in the end.

I've been with Hird the whole way but the on-field performances this year could not stand, I don't care what excuses we use. It was as bad as Knights' final year. He's being sacked for team performance or lack thereof, which is the way it should be.

Thanks for trying Hird.

 

[DrMike]

Agree, if he has lost the players than I think it was the right call.

Looking through twitter atm there are a lot of very angry supporters atm.

I don't agree with the decision but I accept it.

I'd argue there'd be a lot more angry supporters if the club continued to play the way they have for the rest of this year and all of next year.

At some point you just gotta accept it happened, part ways and move on. Your supporters have shown how much they love this club through year on year record membership numbers. If that takes a cut because Hird is gone well you'll still be above where you were before all this happened.

By the time next year starts everyone will have moved on.

 

[Charliebrow 16]

Although I feel that this was inevitable and needed to happen, I'm gutted at the timing. Should have allowed Hird to coach out the season and then moved him on - throwing him out now is classless and disrespectful.

 

[Despair]

*room full of reporters are waiting for presser*

*clock ticks over to 3:19, four minutes late and everyone is looking bemused and a slow murmur takes over*

*Hird enters the room, five seconds later Sheedy enters the room*

*NWO theme song plays in the background*

*Bomber Thompson enters the room*

Essendon FC would like to announce that Bomber is back as assistant coach

 

[Pweter]

I'm not the world's biggest fan of Little, but credit to him, he's taken on a thankless role through the toughest period any club has ever experienced and is going to step away once things start to look up and let someone else drive the club with clear air in front of them.

Credit where it's due.

 

[carnthedons]

*room full of reporters are waiting for presser*

*clock ticks over to 3:19, four minutes late and everyone is looking bemused and a slow murmur takes over*

*Hird enters the room, five seconds later Sheedy enters the room*

*NWO theme song plays in the background*

*Bomber Thompson enters the room*

Essendon FC would like to announce that Bomber is back as assistant coach

 

[Kakkle]

Ariel Steinberg to be announced senior coach for 2016.

 

[Runk]

I couldn't care less about people dancing on Hird's grave but the misogyny on display towards Tania Hird is sickening

That always unsettles me. It's purile at it's best and disgusting at it's worst. Through this whole thing, for mine, that's when we've seen people's true colours.
Hate it.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I couldn't care less about people dancing on Hird's grave but the misogyny on display towards Tania Hird is sickening

If nothing else, it just confirms the types you're dealing with, doesn't it?

The dregs.

 

[Toohey776]

Is there a snowballs chance in hell we can bring Bomber back?

 

[DonsRule]

If they waited this long the question is why didn't they wait another 3 weeks?

Not sure, maybe bring if forward in the search for a new coach.Maybe he did lost the players and thought best to make the decision now.

I'd argue there'd be a lot more angry supporters if the club continued to play the way they have for the rest of this year and all of next year.

At some point you just gotta accept it happened, part ways and move on. Your supporters have shown how much they love this club through year on year record membership numbers. If that takes a cut because Hird is gone well you'll still be above where you were before all this happened.

By the time next year starts everyone will have moved on.

I think it is a big devide either way, recent form had people turning off no doubt.

Depends a lot on what is happening behind the scenes.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Ariel Steinberg to be announced senior coach for 2016.

As long as he's a non playing coach

 

[quotemokc]

The other big issue that isn't getting enough attention is WHO THE SHIT IS LEAKING INFORMATION and has been for years.

That in itself should warrant an independant investigation.

 

[baz_machine]

the board has done what most boards do. on field results have been spiraling out of contract and two other rivals are in the market for a head coach.

figured they were firing him at the end of the season regardless, so have jumped the gun so they don't miss out on their preferred choice.

unfortunately, a very mundane sacking

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Thanks for your donation to the flight plan. We can now afford to pay out Robinson and Hird.

Stick together through the saga and support the boys.

lol. Clowns, comedians, peanuts.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

I'm surprised to see some of you are so quick to say no to the possibility of Bassett coaching. I reckon he'd be perfect and he was my early choice for the Carlton job. I feel sorry for you guys trying to appoint a new coach with the Crows job still up in the air. I think that's the prized seat at the moment.
Maybe you should look at Simon Lloyd.

 

[Fear Boner]

Bye bye membership forever.

3 young boys now become Doggies supporters. It was fun while it lasted.

Good riddance