‘He’s dirty on them’: Hird plotted to overthrow board before Bombers divorce

James Hird is reported to have been considering a bombshell move to seize control of the Bombers before their messy divorce.

James Hird before it all went wrong. Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

James Hird is reported to have been considering a challenge to overthrow Essendon’s chairman before the saga of his divorce from the club had even begun.

Bombshell details of the fiasco that last year saw Hird snubbed as a candidate to return to coach the club have been revealed in a special News Corp investigation.

It has now been reported the relationship between Hird and his former football club will never be repaired, according to The Herald Sun.

The 50-year-old became a central figure in the disastrous end to the club’s miserable 2022 season which ended with coach Ben Rutten, chief executive Xavier Campbell and former chairman Paul Brasher all leaving the club.

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It also ended with Hird feeling “betrayed” and iconic coach and board member Kevin Sheedy taking a public swipe at his fellow directors over the decision that saw Brad Scott appointed head coach.

Extraordinary details of the posturing behind the scenes have now revealed Hird received a visit from chairman David Barham — who was only a board member at the time — in the lead-up to Rutten being sacked as the coach in August.

Former Essendon coach James Hird announcing his resignation. Pic: Michael Klein

Barham and Sheedy are reported to have told Hird they would be responsible for selecting the head coach, despite the club carrying out a thorough process through a special committee.

The report also revealed Hird was understood to be considering a run at the club presidency, which was held by Brasher at the time, before eventual president Barham’s meeting at Hird’s home.

At that meeting, Hird and Barham reportedly agreed the former would apply for a coaching role while the latter would push for the presidency.

Hird and Sheedy, the report said, felt “betrayed” by Barham after he appointed Scott to the role of head coach.

During the announcement of Rutten’s departure at a press conference, Barham was asked if he had spoken to Hird, to which he responded: “Well, no, I haven’t.”

Asked if he would sound 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.’’

Former Carlton coach Daniel Harford said on RSN Breakfast on Wednesday it appeared Hird is “dirty with the club” and is “lost for good”.

James Hird. Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

Football journalist Mark Stevens said on the radio how the latest report will do lasting damage to the football club as it looks to move into a new era under Scott.

“It’s a difficult one for Essendon to shake,” he said

“This is not what Brad Scott needs with the spectre of James Hird continually hovering over Tullamarine.”

The suggestion that Hird has cut off all connection to the football club comes just days after further details were revealed about the broken relationships the Brownlow medallist has with other figures at the club, including former chairman David Evans and former teammate Tim Watson.

The latest revelations further show the club has never been able to piece itself back together following the infamous drugs scandal which ultimately resulted in 34 players being suspended for violating doping rules.

Hird was also ultimately suspended for 12 months as part of the league-imposed sanctions which saw the Bombers excluded from the 2013 finals series.

Hird returned, but quit the role towards the end of the 2015 season.

Now he may be lost to the club for good.

— You can read the full details of News Corp’s special investigation into the Bombers drugs saga here

Originally published as ‘He’s dirty on them’: Hird plotted to overthrow board before Bombers divorce