Former Essendon president Paul Little has not ruled out a challenge to return to his former role in a push that could include James Hird being reinstalled as the club’s AFL coach.

Caroline Wilson revealed on on Monday night that Little, who led the Bombers through three of their darkest years during the drugs saga between 2013 and 2015, would be open to considering a return to the club.

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“We can reveal that Paul Little, the former chairman of the Essendon Football Club, and very generous benefactor of the Essendon Football Club, who was there as chairman during 2013, ‘14, and ‘15 — those acrimonious days — has not ruled out, in fact has left the door very much open, to a return to the Essendon board. A return that, in my view, would include James Hird as coach,” Wilson said on Monday night.

“All year, this story has been festering. Kevin Sheedy, who left the board, (and) Adrian Dodoro, who left the club in really highly acrimonious circumstances — there have been barbs from both at various people at the club.

“But we had started to hear, after the club had 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, didn’t think it was necessary.”

Hird, who is now the director of coaching at VFL club Port Melbourne, and works as an AFL commentator at Channel 9, made comment about current Essendon coach Brad Scott on March 12, the day after it was announced he had extended his contract with the Bombers for a further year until the end of 2027.

“It was my belief that he had a trigger in his initial contract, and he either can’t meet it or didn’t meet it, and I think that that played into it,” Hird told Nine at the time.

“I think the pressure comes if they don’t win enough games or they’re not competitive enough in the start of the season or half-way through the season — the pressure will come.”

Hird, 52, coached the Bombers between 2011 and 2013, and in 2015, overseeing the infamous supplements saga that dogged the club for half a decade and ultimately saw 34 players suspended for the 2016 season.

After a six-year absence from the game, the two-time Bombers premiership player and 1996 Brownlow medallist made his return to football in a part-time assistant coaching role at GWS in 2022.

Wilson is adamant he feels he has unfinished business in the AFL and specifically at Essendon, and that Little would strongly support his return.

In a statement provided to The Agenda Setters on Monday, Little said: “You never say never to anything. It hasn’t been an easy time for the club these past few years.

“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, Little said: “I consider him a friend both inside, but more importantly, outside of football.”

Wilson added: “My belief is that James Hird still harbours an ambition to coach Essendon — I am absolutely convinced of that.

“I make no comment about it, but I am convinced he still harbours that ambition.

“Paul Little would not go any further with me on James Hird today; he said that was a conversation for another time.”

Essendon refused to comment when asked on Monday about the possibility that Little could mount a challenge against current chair David Barham, but Wilson said they are aware of it.

“It’s extraordinary this has all come to light on the eve of the Dreamtime game, one of the biggest nights of their year,” she said.

“I just think that Essendon re-signed Brad Scott because, well, Tasmania’s looming, and we’ll talk about that in a moment — (Tasmania CEO) Brendon Gale wants his coach there in 2027. They (Essendon) knew that if Brad was coming out of contract next year, that would cause unrest.

“They also want to lure Harley Reid, let’s not make any bones about that, and they want a stable environment for Harley Reid.

“And they knew there would be pain this year, and we’re talking after a 91-point defeat at the hands of the Western Bulldogs.”

Wilson also added that former longtime list manager Adrian Dodoro remains in contact with senior figures around the club.

“I can’t say to what degree Adrian Dodoro is involved, but there is no doubt he left the club in great acrimony and he is still close to many people who are involved, or former names at the Essendon Football Club,” she said.

Kane Cornes called the quiet push from Little “selfish”.

“I feel sorry for Brad, I feel sorry for the club, that this is being talked about again, just when now this is a club that is really trying to drive high standards,” he said.

“They have a clear strategy of where they want to go, they are rebuilding the list on the run, they’ve got core groups of young players in the right positions that are coming through, they’re performing on expectation this year — Saturday night was a disaster, we get that.

“But they’re doing things well, and there is a clear vision for what this football club looks like in the next two, three, four, five years.

“And then to have this happen again with these people behind the scenes who are selfish — that’s what they are, they’re selfish; you’ve had your time.”

Wilson made clear that she hadn’t spoke to James Hird specifically, and that he has not declared anything publicly — but was at pains to say she believes he is interested.

“I believe he would love to coach Essendon again one day, and I believe Paul Little thinks he would be great. I think Adrian Dodoro thinks that and I think Kevin Sheedy thinks that,” Wilson said.

“Do they have any influence anymore? I don’t think so.

“There are people who feel shut out now that the board has been strong and got rid of the coterie groups who have been spoken to and the people who knew who was going to be in the team before everyone else knew who was going to be in the team, they feel disenfranchised.

“Now, do they have a power base? I don’t think so.

“I think the board is as stable as it’s been, and I think David Barham — I can’t speak for him — but I think he would be confident of holding off a challenge.”