'Nearly fell off the couch': James Hird responds to stunning Essendon coaching return report

Essendon great James Hird has responded to claims that he is interested in a return to coaching his old side.

Caroline Wilson reported on Monday night that the 52-year-old hopes to one day return to the position he served in between 2011 and 2015.

However, Hird has exclusively told Nine that he was stunned by the report, saying it came out of nowhere.

READ MORE: Buckley's admission on Tassie coaching job after private meetings

READ MORE: Twist in Khawaja's future after 'inflammatory' stand-off

READ MORE: Eagles defender fined for late bump on injured rival

Wilson said any return to coaching for Hird would likely come in tandem with former club chairman Paul Little also returning to power at the club.

"We can reveal that Paul Little, the former chairman of Essendon and very generous benefactor who was there as chairman during 2013, 2014 and 2015, those acrimonious days, has not ruled out, in fact has left the door very much open to a return to the Essendon board," Wilson told Channel Seven.

"A return that, in my view, would include James Hird as coach.

"All year, this story has been festering.

"We started to hear when the club re-signed Brad Scott until the end of 2027 that there was some unrest from some of the old guard, who weren't happy about the re-signing. They didn't think it was necessary.

"My belief is that James still harbours an ambition to coach Essendon. I am absolutely convinced of that."

In a statement provided to Nine's Footy Classified, Hird said he was shocked by the news.

"It's news to me and I haven't spoken to Paul Little for months. I nearly fell of the couch when I heard it," he said.

Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts

Little provided Channel Seven with a statement himself, saying "you never say never to anything" and that there "may come a time when there is a need for a restructure".

"If I felt I could add value to the club, and if they felt I could help, then I would consider it."

On Hird, he said: "I consider him a friend both inside, but more importantly, outside of football."

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd believes his old club will be frustrated by this distraction.

"It's not good for the club. James obviously denied that, and you believe James in that situation, and this is what happens when you lose by 91 points, unfortunately things like this happen, whether it's from a coterie member or someone around the club," Lloyd told Footy Classified.

"It's the last thing those within the football club need because they just want to get on with being the club they hope to be."

Hird coached the Bombers for 85 games and his departure came amidst the supplement saga that rocked the club.

He is currently serving as an assistant coach for VFL club Port Melbourne.

Current Essendon coach Brad Scott will join Hird on the panel for Nine's Footy Classified on Tuesday night.