Essendon is a great club, splitting at the seams over drugs saga

ANALYSIS: TODAY might be James Hird’s final day at Essendon. In a short time, Essendon Football Club could lose both Hird and Thompson, who could move to the Gold Coast Suns.

Great club is splitting at the seams

TODAY might be James Hird’s final day at Essendon.

And the Bombers could lose Mark Thompson to the Gold Coast Suns.

In a short time, Essendon Football Club could lose both. Extraordinary result.

Hird faces the sack because he is about to appeal against the Federal Court’s dismissal of his and the club’s challenge over the supplements scandal.

MORE: Little tells supporters to move on as Hird faces sack

The Bombers said yesterday they would not exercise their right to appeal, and have urged Hird to follow suit. He won’t.

If and when he goes against Essendon’s wishes, then it will be Hird v Bombers.

The club begged Hird to accept a 12-month suspension.

James Hird and Mark Thompson. Picture: Michael Klein

And a month after he returns, they are on the brink of sacking him.

If both Thompson and Hird depart, then chairman Paul Little and the board might as well resign.

Governance has been the buzzword throughout this saga — and the governance from Little and co has been inconsistent at best.

Others might say the departure of Hird and Thompson, and the board, is the best possible result for the club.

But it’s a nightmare. After almost two years, the club is on its knees, arguably at its lowest and most desperate.

Patrick Ryder is gone; others might leave; players might take deals; Thompson might have packed his togs for Queensland; and Hird’s taking his life and reputation to the High Court.

One club insider said yesterday: it’s a conundrum.

A conundrum? That’s an epic understatement.

The club will be desperate to learn of Thompson’s plans.

He was approached three weeks ago by an AFL coach, thought to be Ken Hinkley, presumably after Hinkley received a phone call from a Gold Coast official asking about the possible availability of the two-time premiership coach in 2015.

Bomber is interested, as the Herald Sun revealed yesterday.

James Hird and Mark Thompson. Picture: Michael Dodge

Now Guy McKenna is officially gone as coach, the Suns will officially go after Bomber.

But if the Bombers sack Hird, it goes without saying that they would want Thompson to remain as coach.

But it might be too late: Thompson’s manager has already contacted the Suns

You’d think a deal in the offing from the Suns would be for about five years at a million-plus a pop.

It’s believed the AFL has given its tick of approval if Thompson accepts the job.

That’s enlightening itself. Twelve months ago, the league charged Thompson with bringing the game into disrepute, and fined him $30,000. And now the league will part with a million large to get him to look after one of its infants.

There is a view Thompson would choose Essendon over Gold Coast if there was a choice, though that choice could end a strong friendship.

Thompson, once as defiant as Hird, accepted the fill-in role because he felt a responsibility. But he fell in love with the role and wants it again.

But will he stand by Hird as a matter of principle?

It’s not beyond him to tell the club that if they sack Hird, then he goes as well.

Hird, meanwhile, is hanging from a cliff by a fingernail.

While the Bombers have once again given up the fight — feeling it’s practical to end the devastating saga — Hird is a different beast.

He is charging on for himself, his family, the players and the club, knowing that he’s probably sacrificing his career.

Certainly, he is defiant.

Clearly, be believes that principle is more important than coaching.

Even the Hird haters would admit he has mettle.

And what happens if he wins the appeal, and the “show cause” notices disappear?

The Bombers would be slapping themselves on the back, and the bloke who didn’t blink would have lost his job — for saving the club.

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Originally published as Essendon is a great club, splitting at the seams over drugs saga