Some senior Essendon players tried to persuade James Hird not to go through with his plan to appeal to the Federal Court verdict against him and the club, after the club hierarchy briefed the leadership group on the crisis on Wednesday.

The club intends to offer the coaching position to Mark Thompson in the event that Hird is sacked. It is understood that Thompson met with skipper Jobe Watson on Wednesday and indicated that he would not stay at Essendon next year - unless he was senior coach.

Essendon is well aware that Thompson is interested in coaching the Gold Coast Suns, following the sacking of Guy McKenna.