Mark Thompson is yet to fully commit to coaching Essendon in 2014

ESSENDON assistant Mark Thompson is yet to fully commit to coaching the Bombers in the wake of the supplements saga.

THE certainty in which Mark Thompson approached the Essendon senior coaching job last week is suddenly clouded.

As Thompson deals with the realities of being punished for his role in the 2012 supplements program, his mood swings from anger to a sense of responsibility to the players.

He is still perplexed about the club negotiating a deal with the AFL, which saw him fined $30,000, and has told confidantes he has considered walking away from the game.

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Burning desire to drive Bombers

To others, he has said he would coach, although the parameters needed to be established.

He wants to coach, but understands that the club might also be looking for a coach to help repair the brand and to help fans renew their faith in the club.

Bombers chairman Paul Little confirmed Thompson's interest in the senior coaching role, but a replacement for James Hird would not be announced for at least a month.

Bombers football director Chris Heffernan will head-up the coaching sub-committee with the view of naming the new coach on the Crichton Medal night, October 2.

Hird was suspended for 12 months for his role in the supplements saga, although it can be revealed Hird offered to walk away from football for good if his players were able to play finals.

The AFL said no.

Little refused to comment on the Hird offer on Monday.

Thompson fans

But he indicated Hird's replacement would come from inside in the club.

Thompson and assistant coach Simon Goodwin, who coached the team against Richmond, are considered the two main candidates.

"I've got no doubt he (Thompson) would like to do it, but what I can say is there is a process underway which will include Mark, and that process will try to exactly work out what it is I need," Little said.

"It's not a typical requirement in many ways. I don't think the footy club is broken, I don't think you can deny momentum is there, we obviously don't want to tamper with too much, so we need someone who can maintain what is already under way."

He said he was buoyed by Thompson's passion when the pair spoke the morning after the AFL handed down its penalties.

"It was good to hear him say that (he was interested) in a very passionate way and it would be very easy to accept Mark as the best candidate, but there are others we need to consider," Little said.

As Thompson contemplates his future, his ability to coach the team next year has been questioned by skipper Jobe Watson and Brendon Goddard.