Mark Thompson is set to become Essendon's interim coach in place of James Hird

PREMIERSHIP coach Mark Thompson is expected to become Essendon's interim coach in place of the suspended James Hird.

MARK Thompson is expected to be announced interim coach of Essendon after talks with chairman Paul Little on Wednesday.

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Thompson, who considered walking away from the game at the end of last year, will coach for 12 months before returning to his role as an assistant to James Hird.

An announcement is expected in coming weeks as the club revamps the football department.

Hird and Thompson have spoken several times in the past 48 hours and though it's not Hird's decision, his support for Thompson - and vice versa - has convinced the two-time premiership coach to fill the void.

"We'd all like Mark Thompson to do it - he's the obvious choice," Hird said.

"But that's a decision for the club and for Mark."

It's believed Thompson has told his wife, Jana, of his desire to coach the Bombers and she is fully supportive. Thompson repeatedly said he would never coach again after Geelong.

James Hird, Mark Thomson

But the crisis at Essendon, and Thompson's strong relationship with Hird and the players, forced a re-think in the past 24 hours.

On Tuesday Thompson was fined $30,000 for his role in the 2012 supplements program. Hird was suspended for 12 months, but it was revealed he recently signed a contract extension until the end of the 2016 season.

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Initially furious with the outcome, Thompson soon realised the club needed help.

He spent two days with Little at AFL House and spoke to Little via the telephone on Wednesday. He is understood to have told Little he wants the job.

Despite Thompson's enthusiasm for the role, the club would be mindful of the extra responsibilities required of the senior coach - those same responsibilities that contributed to Thompson burning out at Geelong.

Others linked to the job are Simon Goodwin, who is coaching the Bombers this week, former premiership player Mark Harvey, who could also return as an assistant to Thompson, and former player and Melbourne coach Neale Daniher.

Little said at his press conference on Tuesday night three people separate to Goodwin had told the club they would stand in for Hird.

One wasn't legendary coach Kevin Sheedy.

Sheedy said he had been contacted by Little about a possible return, but it wouldn't be as coach.

Little confirmed in a letter to members on Wednesday that the club and Hird had agreed to a two-year extension.