‘Irrelevant’: Caretaker rejects ‘Essendon person’ debate as call to opt out of race explained

Interim Bombers coach Dean Solomon says the potential upside of his club hiring an ‘Essendon person’ as its next senior coach is “irrelevant”.

It comes after Essendon confirmed on Wednesday night that Solomon had withdrawn from the Bombers’ coaching race.

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Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Solomon said his decision was “multi-layered” but conceded the time was “just not right for me”.

“Like in any decision I make, I go through a process, which involves all those things – family, business, where I currently live, the timing of this job, the commitment of this job,” Solomon said. “I always take my time on those decisions.

“Yeah, of course I considered it, but it’s just not the right time for me.”

Solomon has coached the Bombers to one win from nine games since taking over as interim boss following the sacking of Brad Scott in May.

Asked if a stronger win-loss record would’ve made him more likely to apply, Solomon said: “Potentially not – for the same reasons.

“I’d go through the same process and weigh it all up again and make a call from there.

“Let’s acknowledge the win-loss does hurt you in this situation. If you are an interim, it’s proven.

“But it’s a bit of a hypothetical at this point in time and my decision is to not apply for the job.”

Solomon said he intended to honour his contract and remain at the club for next year, but conceded the new coach might want different personnel.

“It’s a little bit unknown over the next couple of weeks until that coach is put in place, but we’ll work through it and see where it lands,” Solomon said.

Solomon’s decision means the race for the next Essendon coach is now down to four candidates: Club greats James Hird and Mark McVeigh, as well as highly respected assistant coaches Murray Davis (Adelaide) and Jaymie Graham (Fremantle).

Asked who should coach the Bombers next, Solomon said: “You tell me! One of the four.

“I have no idea. I have no insight to where the process is at, other than what I read from what you guys are putting in the press.

“I’m sure they’ll make the right decision.”

Asked what the Bombers needed in their next senior coach, Solomon said: “I think people just need to be really clear on where the list is at. It’s an exciting young group and I feel like the opportunity for the next coach is a really exciting opportunity.

“There’s a real development phase we need to go into. Post that, it’s going to be quite exciting. But there’s a lot of hard work to be done still in the short term.

“There’s a really good young group here. They’re really hungry to be really, really good. But as we know, unfortunately, it takes a bit of time and we just need to be patient with it.”

Solomon played down the potential benefit of the Bombers hiring an ‘Essendon person’

“You’ve just got to be the right person at the right time for the right job,” he said.

“They’re taking their time with the process to be incredibly thorough to ensure they get the right person for this job.

“Whether that’s a person who has played for this football club or hasn’t played, I think it’s irrelevant. I really do.

“It’s multi-layered, it’s a big job … But again, members and supporters, they should be really excited about what the next two, three years can look like.”

Solomon’s call came days after AFL legend Leigh Matthews questioned why any prospective coach would want the Essendon role, telling 3AW Football he’d “have no confidence to coach under that regime”

“If you desperately want a job, you’d go for it, right? But anyone who’s got choices ain’t going to Essendon,” Matthews said on Saturday.

Asked about Matthews’ comments, Solomon said: “I guess that’s Leigh’s decision, I guess his thought process around our football club and our process,” Solomon said.

“Being within the four walls and having exposure the last 12 to 13 weeks as an interim coach and being a board member prior to that and being an assistant coach for the last 18 months to two years, I honestly believe it’s a really exciting opportunity for a coach.

“There’s going to be a lot of work that’s needed to ensure that these young kids develop the right way holistically. But things are going to shift north pretty quickly.”

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