Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell has left the door ajar for a future return to the club for Bombers' legend James Hird but has said the club are "comfortable" with their assistant coaching line-up at this stage.
The Bombers have announced that they are undergoing an extensive review of its football program, including their coaching department in the wake of a horror 2-9 start to the 2022 season.
Assistants Blake Caracella, Daniel Giansiracusa and Dale Tapping all work closely with senior coach Ben Rutten and when asked byย SEN'sย Sam McClure on Sportsdayย about a coaching return for Hird, Campbell said the club weren't looking to make changes anytime soon.
"James is always welcome back at the footy club," Campbell responded.
"I would argue that he's not disconnected with the football club either.
"They're decisions for Josh (Mahoney) and Ben (Rutten) to work through as they position and resource their football program.
"I think we're very comfortable with our assistant coaches too."
Hird, who currently works under former Essendon teammate and GWS caretaker coach Mark McVeigh alongside another former Bomber Dean Solomon, was the former head coach of Essendon before resigning in 2015 after the infamous supplements saga.
Bombers president Paul Brasher is confident that his side can win a premiership in the next "two to three years".ย Speaking onย SEN's Whateley, Brasher was asked by host Gerard Whateley why he is confident of future success at the Bombers.
"We've got a list that's pretty much the youngest every week in terms of experience and I just think you go through those names of the people we've got, I think you see the future," Brasher said.
"Yes, we certainly don't want to be 2-9. You'll see an improved performance in the second half of the year, but it hasn't changed my faith in the fact that we've got a team that over the next two to three years can be a premiership team."
As part of a five-year plan announced last December, Essendon is aiming for premiership success by 2026.
