OUTGOING Essendon coach Mark Thompson says he won't consider offers from rival clubs for senior coaching positions.
In the most definitive statement of the coach's future plans, Thompson said on Fox Footy on Monday night he thought his time in charge of an AFL club was over after Saturday night's finals loss to North Melbourne.
"Possibly, yeah, probably," he said when asked.
Thompson, who coached the Bombers until Saturday night's elimination finals loss to North Melbourne, will step aside for the returning James Hird next year.
The Bombers are hopeful Thompson will remain at Essendon next season and help oversee the development of the club's promising list.
Thompson will sit down with Essendon officials this week and finalise his future for next season as the club undertakes its exit interviews.
"This week some time. We've got exit meetings in the next two or three days," Thompson said.
But he is still yet to make clear whether he wants to be at Essendon as one of Hird's lieutenants next year.
After considering his year in charge, Thompson thought he tried to implement too many different things in one season.
Thompson was widely praised for helping take the Bombers back to the finals after the club was barred from participating last season as punishment for its part in the supplement saga.
"I tried to do too much," Thompson said.
"It sort of frustrated me a bit early days because what I was expecting to happen wasn't happening and we couldn't get it done because we didn't have the people around."
