James Hird will be back. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
ESSENDON Chairman Paul Little tonight confirmed James Hird will coach Essendon again after serving his 12-month suspension.
Hird will be banned from working for any AFL club in any capacity after he gave up his fight against the AFL and pleaded guilty to bringing the game into disrepute.
His ban is backdated to start on August 25 which means he can return in time for next year's finals - but that he won't be in charge for Essendon's final home-and-away game against Richmond on Saturday night.
Assistant coach Simon Goodwin will coach against the Tigers.
Little said he had already had three people put up their hand to take the caretaker coach role, but would not reveal their names.
Hird can attend AFL matches but cannot be paid by the Bombers in any capacity.
Little described the penalties as "tough but fair".
"I think the players probably do feel let down," Little said.
"All I can say to them is there is a clear way forward and ask that they forgive us for mistakes that we've made."
The club tonight accepted their penalties and admitted there were "failings" during the 2012 supplement program.
"We recognise that failings occurred at our club during this period. We must - and do - accept accountability and apologise for them," Mr Little said.
"We have learnt from our mistakes and made substantial reforms to our governance and people management practices to ensure the club will never be in this position again."
But he stressed that the final settlement is significantly different to the allegations released by the AFL.
"The AFL acknowledges that neither Essendon Football Club nor any of the individuals charged set out to implement a supplements program that would result in players being administered prohibited or potentially harmful substances."
The club will not play finals, pay a $2 million fine and will lose its first two draft pick in the 2013 and 2014 drafts.
Football manager Danny Corcoran will be suspended for four months and senior assistant coach Mark Thompson will be fined $30,000. Dr Bruce Reid has decided to contest the charges against him.
Mr Little said the process had been difficult for all involved but especially for the players.
"This process has been exceptionally taxing on everyone at the club - but no more so than for our players, these four individuals and their families. Throughout, they have conducted themselves with great dignity and loyalty to Essendon."
AFL STATEMENT ON JAMES HIRD
The AFL and James Hird agree that in 2011-2012 EFC implemented, while Hird was senior coach of the club, the program, which was inadequately vetted and controlled.
It is agreed by the AFL and James Hird that:
HE CONTRIBUTED to the Essendon FC's failure to take sufficient steps to ensure the health, welfare and safety of players in relation to the program.
WHEN he became aware of facts that suggested that unsatisfactory practices were occurring, the action he took was not sufficient to stop those practices.
HE DID not take sufficient steps to avoid there being a risk that players may have been administered substances that were prohibited by the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code, and any such risk is an unacceptable risk.
AS SENIOR Coach, he shares responsibility for the inadequate governance within EFC's football department,
AND in consequence, Hird accepts that the Essendon FC breached Rule 1.6 of the AFL Player Rules.
PENALTIES
By reason of the matters referred to above:
The AFL will impose a 12 month suspension from the AFL effective from 25 August 2013;
James Hird will not work with any AFL Club in any capacity during this period; and
James Hird accepts this suspension.
The AFL and James Hird consider that the best interests of the game and its supporters are served by a resolution of this matter now given James Hird's willingness to resolve the matter.
The AFL acknowledges that:
No breaches of the AFL Anti-Doping Code have been established to date;
James Hird did not set out to implement a supplements program that would result in players being administered WADA prohibited or harmful substances;
James Hird's willingness to resolve the matter as described above is appropriate action by him in the circumstances.
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