Hird, now officially out of exile, returned to the club on Monday for his first day of work at the Bombers' new home in Tullamarine, having served the 12-month suspension he agreed to accept from the AFL last year for his part in the supplements saga.

With the seventh-placed Bombers preparing for a final-round match against arch-rival Carlton on Saturday at the MCG,  Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell reiterated on Monday that Hird's focus would be "exclusively on 2015".

But the key question surrounded Thompson, who has led the Bombers to the finals against the odds, yet will step aside next year for Hird and has already cast doubt on whether he will stay at the club because he can't,  at present,  see an available role that would satisfy him.

Hird revealed that he and Thompson had begun unofficial discussions about Thompson's future.

"We'd all like Bomber to stay on, particularly, I'd like him to stay on," Hird said.

"He is obviously a great coach, he's been terrific for the players this year and for the whole club this year.

"It's his decision, but we've had a few chats and we'll sit down over time.

"It's not just his decision or my decision, it's also the club's decision … but everyone at Essendon would love him to stay."

Thompson said last week he was open to staying at Essendon in 2015, but pointed out that all the major roles in the football department were already filled – with Hird set to replace him as senior coach for the next two seasons and Neil Craig and Rob Kerr having been elevated to higher positions at the head of the football department.

Before Hird's suspension, Thompson was listed as his "senior assistant" in 2013. Simon Goodwin is now in that role supporting Thompson.

The entire football department underwent a restructure when the fallout from the supplements scandal, which now has 34 past and present players facing infractions notices from anti-doping body ASADA, showed serious failings of governance and breakdowns in the chain of command.

The plan was for Thompson to fill in for Hird while the Bombers legend completed his suspension. Thompson does not have a contract for 2015.

But the club is being implored to create a new role that would satisfy Thompson and tap into his knowledge and experience, but not cut across Hird, Goodwin, Craig and Kerr.

Tim Watson, father of club captain Jobe, said last week the Bombers simply had to find a way to keep the former Geelong premiership coach at the club, even stating it was "not inconceivable" that Thompson could be reappointed as senior coach for 2015 and act as a mentor to Hird, who would take a lesser position.

Campbell said on Monday the club would wait until the end of the season to sit down with Thompson and discuss his future.

"We've been very transparent with that, we're open to what that looks like," Campbell said.,

A year to the day since Essendon was booted from the 2013 finals series, Hird walked into True Value Solar Centre on Monday morning and was given a tour of the new facility by Craig and Campbell.

Campbell said Hird would not have a matchday role in the coach's  box in 2014, but would be working with  Craig and Campbell  on list management, reviewing footage from this season and preparing for next year.

Hird said he would be at the MCG to watch his side take on Carlton.

"I was there last week, I was there the week before and I'll be there on Saturday," Hird said.