Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Hird: I don’t want to coach at Essendon
Andrew Slevison • May 21st, 2025 8:56 am
James Hird has no intentions of returning to Essendon as coach.
The Bombers legend has again been the subject of speculation this week.
Caroline Wilson reported that former chairman Paul Little has not ruled out a comeback which would in turn bring Hird back to the club as senior coach.
Club great and former captain Tim Watson said on Tuesday the he simply cannot see the sensational shake-up taking place.
Now Hird himself has expanded on his initial comments of: “I nearly fell off the couch when I heard it.”
The two-time premiership Don, former skipper, Brownlow Medallist, five-time All-Australian and five-time best and fairest says the rumours are beginning to damage the business he founded - Euree Asset management - where he is the managing director.
Hird says the only coaching he is interested in right now is his coaching director role with VFL club Port Melbourne where his son Tom plays.
“I have a business that is taking a lot of my time and it's actually quite concerning when reports like that come on air,” he said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“I had calls all day today from my investors saying, ‘What are you doing? Why are you entertaining this?’
“It damages my business, I haven't got ambitions (to coach). I'm loving what I'm doing with my son down at Port Melbourne and that's the extent of it.
“It's a little bit concerning that every time there's a story, I'm the one that's focused (on).
“I don't want to coach at Essendon.”
Current Essendon coach Brad Scott was a guest on Footy Classified, sitting next to Hird during the episode, and also commented on the situation.
He says that Hird is an innocent bystander amid all the rumours and innuendo.
“A lot of people were asking what was happening and clearly the club were put in a position where they've got to respond to these sorts of things,” said Scott.
“Clearly it's a story, people have great interest in it. From my perspective, James didn't ask for any of this, James hasn't spoken about this.
“I would find it very hard in James' position to answer questions about what other people think he's going to do.”
By the sounds of it, Hird has no intentions of gunning for Scott's job anytime soon.
“Brad Scott is the best man for the job and I for one support him,” he added.
The Bombers, under Scott, will look to improve their 5-4 record when they meet Richmond in the Dreamtime time clash at the MCG this Friday night.
