UPDATE 3.18pm: GEELONG hopes to have an answer this week from Mark Thompson about whether he will coach the Cats next year.
Thompson told the Cats this morning he was suffering from burnout and wanted some time out after 11 years as senior coach.
The club confirmed in a media conference at 3pm that Thompson had been approached by Essendon, which today announced Hird as coach for the next four years.
"In Mark's own words, he doesn't wish to go there," Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said.
"The issue is not whether he's going to Essendon, the issue is whether he's coaching at all."
Cook said the Cats hoped Thompson would fulfil the final year of his contract but they could not afford to wait long for him to make up his mind.
"While we want to lok after Mark's future, we have to look after future of the club," he said.
"We expect a decision from Mark sooner rather than later."
Thompson has been told to talk to his family and close friends and return with an answer before trade week, which starts next Tuesday.
If Thompson says he wants to coach the club next year the Cats are prepared to give him a break of several months to return refreshed for next season.
"I hope he fulfils his contract because he is a great coach," Cook said.
"The unfortunate reality is that - in our opinion, and we're not medicos - he is suffering some form of burnout after 11 years. He's reassessing his life, he reassesing his future, and we're caught in the middle of that.
"But I hope he coaches us next year. But we want a coach who is fully committed."
Cook said he was surprised when Thompson spoke to him at 11am today to say he needed some time off but he believed the coach had been totally honest.
He said his belief was if Thompson decided not to coach Geelong next year that would be the end of his coaching career, and he would concentrate on his property interests.
Cook said the club expected a decision from star player Gary Ablett by the end of this week. Ablett is being offered a huge contract to join the Gold Coast.
"I think the odds are against it (Ablett staying) because we can't match the offer of the Gold Coast, but we're hoping he stays for other reasons."
Hird, a former premiership teammate of Thompson, was this morning named Essendon coach for the next four years.
Asked about the possibility of working with Thompson, Hird said he had not spoken to his former premiership teammate but he liked the idea of a "senior assistant" to help as he starts his new career.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/bomber-thompson-set-to-quit-ast-geelong-coach/story-e6frf9jf-1225930803947
