ESSENDON great Matthew Lloyd believes the impending appointment of Mark McVeigh as Bombers coach will "divide fans", but he is pleased for his "ruthless" former teammate.

As reported by AFL.com.au on Sunday, Sydney assistant McVeigh is in the box seat to land the Essendon job, ahead of club great James Hird, Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham and Adelaide coaching director Murray Davis.

Lloyd believes the looming decision to appoint McVeigh over Hird will cause a divide among the club's supporters.

"It is going to divide fans. James is the most loved person, I think, in the history of the Essendon Football Club," he told AFL.com.au's Access.

"But just on Mark, he's done the hard yards for well over a decade. He's coached the Allies ... he worked at the Giants, where he became the interim coach there, and then been under John Longmire, under Dean Cox. I'm really, really pleased for him."

McVeigh has previously been at the helm of Greater Western Sydney and Sydney Academy sides, while holding assistant roles at both clubs.

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He went 4-9 as interim coach of the Giants in 2022 after the resignation of Leon Cameron.

Lloyd backed his former teammate, who played 232 games for Essendon, as a strong appointment.

"He's ruthless. I think it's what that place needs, someone to come in and be really, really tough and hard on the standards and the expectations," Lloyd said.

"But he's also got a softer side. He's a really good relationships type of person as a coach. It might not be the James Hird that everyone wanted. But Mark, I think he's a strong appointment for the footy club.

"If any of the other three got this position, I knew there was going to be backlash. But Mark can't worry about any of that. Just head down, bum up. Don't worry about that.

"And if they start winning games like (Melbourne coach) Steven King, (the supporters are) not going to remember that.

"I'll never forget when Alastair Clarkson got the job and what some of the Hawthorn people thought of that appointment. And the rest is history. So that's what Mark's just got to focus on."