Essendon sorry for 'mistakes' but 'not drug cheats'

ESSENDON has admitted to making mistakes but declared it will not agree to penalties that link the club to "drug cheating".

ESSENDON has declared it would not agree to penalties that linked the club to "drug cheating" as James Hird's coaching future hung in the balance.

The prospect of the Bombers being dumped from the finals remains.

Hird's future in the balance

Club chairman Paul Little said negotiations were continuing and acknowledged the club would be punished over its 2012 supplements program.

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"We have made mistakes in terms of governance and people management, and we apologise for them," Little said.

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"We also accept there will be AFL sanctions as a consequence, but the evidence does not extend to drug cheating, and we're working to ensure that the charges and ultimate penalties reflect this."

"At (Thursday's) meeting of AFL club chairmen and presidents, I stressed we wanted matters resolved, but also that matters need to be concluded in a fair manner with charges and penalties that reflect the club's actual failings and the evidence."

One scenario could see Hird agree to stand down to concentrate on his own legal battle against the AFL, with the Bombers agreeing to play no part in the finals.

The loss of crucial draft picks and the length of suspensions for officials remain sticking points.

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The AFL Commission will meet on Monday, although Hird, the club and the other three senior figures facing charges have won an extension to better prepare their defence.

Presidents from the other 17 clubs told the Bombers on Thursday they stood with the AFL and backed the commission as the body to hear the charges.

On Thursday, Hird issued a writ in the Supreme Court seeking to have charges heard by a body other than the AFL Commission, stating that league boss Andrew Demetriou and other commissioners could not be impartial.

But the league moved quickly, filing a notice of appearance with the Supreme Court.

Under procedural rules, the AFL had 10 days to file the appearance, which was the first step to defending the court action.

The league has another 28 days to file a defence or counter-claim.

Hird said he had sympathy for the mother of a player who made an emotional call to radio station Triple M on Thursday, questioning the moral standing of the club and calling for Hird to go.

"It was very concerning," Hird said of her radio call.

"I think the welfare of our players is something that we all hold in high regard and are very concerned about, so it was very concerning to hear it.

"We are still trying to (make) contact and find out who that person is."