James Hird believed he had support of incoming chairman David Barham to be Essendon coach after secret meeting

A meeting between James Hird and David Barham last year set in course a change of direction for the third generation Bomber.

New Essendon chairman David Barham gave an undertaking to support James Hird’s possible return as coach at a secret meeting in the weeks leading up to the sacking of Ben Rutten.

The Herald Sun can reveal Barham went to Hird’s home and assured him that when Rutten was gone, he and influential director Kevin Sheedy would be selecting the new coach.

Sources said both Hird and Sheedy felt betrayed by Barham after he appointed AFL football operations boss Brad Scott to the position.

Hird confidantes believe Hird, who is a third generation Bomber, is now fully lost to the club.

In a sensational twist, Hird was understood to have been considering challenging then president Paul Brasher before the Barham meeting at Hird’s Toorak home.

Sources said that at the meeting it was determined that Barham would go for the presidency and that Hird should apply for the coaching role and not a board position.

Sheedy was aware of the secret meeting and the proposed plan.

Believing he had the support of Barham and Sheedy, Hird officially applied for the position and was interviewed by the coaching selection panel.

Sheedy, who helped secure Barham’s presidency when he sided with Barham in a boardroom showdown against Brasher on the weekend of Round 22, was confident that Hird would return for a third stint in the top job.

Hird was made aware that Barham also intended to pursue premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.

Barham sacked Rutten after the round 23 match.

At Rutten’s departure press conference, Barham was asked if he had spoken to Hird about the coaching position.

He said: “Well, no I haven’t.’’

David Barham at the press conference to unveil Brad Scott as Essendon coach.

Asked if he would be sounding out Hird, he said: “I won’t be sounding anyone out because there’s a process. We’re going to rely on a process, a real thorough process to decide who our next coach is.’’

When Sheedy joined Lindsay Fox’s 85th birthday celebrations on a luxury cruise from New York to Montreal in early September, he expected Hird to be announced as coach while he was away.

When Scott was appointed on September 30, a furious Sheedy told the Herald Sun from California that the Scott vote was not fully endorsed by the board.

James Hird has been working with GWS.

Hird during Essendon’s 150th year celebrations. Photo by Michael Klein

“I am extremely disappointed that the comment from my club was that it was fully endorsed, when in fact I voted for James Hird to be the coach of Essendon,’’ Sheedy said

“The vote was 6-1.

“I voted for James Hird and I’m extremely disappointed with the report that went out from the Essendon media department.

“I’m not happy.

“Don’t tell the Essendon fan base an untruth.

“I actually felt insulted that Hird would think I voted against him after what he’s done for our club.’’

It’s understood the AFL strongly supported Scott, the league’s football operations boss, over Hird.

The premiership captain was suspended by the AFL for 12 months for his role in the Essendon supplement program, which erupted 10 years ago this week.

Originally published as James Hird believed he had support of incoming chairman David Barham to be Essendon coach after secret meeting