Essendon coach Matthew Knights insists he has full faith in the AFL club’s powerbrokers honouring his contract, despite rampant speculation about his future.
Knights and Bombers chairman David Evans were tight-lipped on Thursday night as they left a routine board meeting.
“Sleep well, everyone,” Knights told waiting media.
But Knights may well be enduring some sleepless nights in the wake of Essendon’s massive form slump over the last fortnight.
Club legend James Hird fanned the flames earlier this week, admitting publicly for the first time that he wanted to coach the Bombers at some stage.
Before the meeting, former Essendon chairman and current board member Ray Horsburgh was asked if he thought Knights would coach next year.
He referred to the club’s upcoming review of their football operations.
“I don’t know – they’re doing a review, I’m not involved in the review,” Horsburgh told Channel Nine’s Footy Show.
“You don’t prescribe the medicine until you know the illness.
“You have to look at what the problems are and what needs to be fixed, who are the right people – but I don’t know yet.
“The review has to be done and whatever comes of the review has to be discussed and everything put in the open.”
On Thursday morning, Knights said at his weekly media conference that he remained supremely confident the club would honour his contract, which was extended until the end of 2012 midway through last year.
“I’ve just got an unbelievable belief in the integrity of David Evans and (chief executive) Ian Robson and the board of Essendon and the faith that they’ve shown in me, the way they’ve indicated even in the last month or so how they want to stay the course and see this thing through,” said Knights.
“That’s the sign of a great football club that holds firm in times of challenge and darkness and when the team is not playing well.”
After slipping to 13th and out of finals contention, a good place for the players to show that improvement would be on Sunday against Brisbane and in the final-round clash against the Western Bulldogs.
But Lions captain Jonathan Brown, who has a habit of playing his best football against the Bombers, will return on Sunday for his 200th game.
“As far as I can say I’m going to be here for the next two years and coaching Essendon,” said Knights.
“I’ve got a real passion for the players of the football club, I really believe in the list and the talent and we’ve got to mould this group, have patience and bring this group through together.
“There’s no other way to do it in the AFL environment, than to have patience and when they mature with games and experience they’ll come though.”
Since retiring three years ago, Hird has remained mostly ambiguous about any coaching aspirations he might hold, preferring to focus on his management role at sports marketing company Gemba and his media work.
The goalposts moved on Wednesday when the 2000 premiership captain said he held an ambition “deep in his heart” to return one day to Windy Hill as coach.
Knights insisted he had no problem with Hird’s comments.
“James Hird is a legend of the football club and I’ve always had a good rapport with James,” said Knights.
“I don’t know James’ intentions in regards to life or coaching, that’s James’ business as far as I am concerned.
Knights took over the Essendon job in difficult circumstances three seasons ago, following the record 27-year reign of four-time premiership mentor Kevin Sheedy.
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