Essendon Coach James Hird Resigns: Gives Team A Chance To Move On

The Essendon Football Club is reportedly set to part ways with embattled senior coach James Hird, effective immediately.

Hird’s time as coach of Essendon will be forever remembered for the supplements scandal that continues to dog the club.

The search begins for a permanent replacement for Essendon’s 2016 season.

“To his credit, James recognises his performance is measured by performance of football team”.

So much so that when Hird became available, the prospect of the messiah returning to lead the rebuilding of a kingdom on the brink was irresistible.

Hird, club president Paul Little and chief executive Xavier Campbell appeared at the press conference on Tuesday afternoon to announce the coach’s departure.

Following today’s announcement that James Hird was stepping down as Essendon Football Club coach, Twitter user Troy Hallum posted a photo of a tub of peptides outside his house with the hashtag #PutYourPeptidesOut.

Little also announced his own plans to leave the role as the club’s chairman when the club’s WADA proceedings concluded, according to The West Australian.

Hird, who had one of the club’s most glittering playing careers, has remained Essendon’s senior coach despite persistent criticism for overseeing the club’s infamous 2012 supplements regime, which resulted in him being banned from coaching for 12 months by the AFL in 2014.

Essendon chairman Paul Little, together with the club’s board, accepted Hird’s resignation and resolved he would have to vacate the job in order for the club to move past the drugs scandal that has consumed it since being uncovered in early 2013.

“But… I don’t think the players can have complete space until it’s over”.

James Hird leaves the ground during the weekend’s game.

Hird also stated that a friend had recently advised him that perhaps it was time for him and his family to enjoy their lives and enjoy “how wonderful life really is”. My record, even through troubled times, is something that I am proud of.

“The adversity that we have struggled through has not broken us, so I don’t believe that we have failed”.

James Hird “s resignation has been seen as inevitable following a succession of heavy defeats by the Bombers, who have won only five matches this season, with the only question the extent to which the players” slump has been caused by the draining impact of the WADA appeal which will be heard be the Court of Arbritration for Sport in November.

“I want the supporters to come to the game and be able to enjoy it again”.

He was asked if he thought the AFL had anything to do with his departure.

Hird followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by playing for Essendon after joining the club in the 1990 national draft.

As a one-club player, Hird spent 16 years with the Bombers, making 253 appearances and scoring 343 goals.