Essendon is closing in on appointing a new Head of Development with the process narrowed down to the final candidates for the role.

The position is the final vacancy to be filled in the club’s coaching structure for 2015 following the announcement of Mark Harvey as an assistant coach on Wednesday.

General Manager – Football Performance Neil Craig said the club was hoping to finalise an appointment shortly.

“That has been a lengthy process for us but we are getting closer to being able to make an announcement there,”” Craig said.

“We have interviewed a lot of people and we are now down to a small number in terms of making a final decision.”

“I am sure we will get a good person in that position as it is a huge role and an important role.

Craig said the club’s development program had undergone a significant review at the end of the 2014 season and identified a number of key improvement areas.

“Our development department is very significant in this football club and it is highlighted by last year when we had seven or eight players debut.”

“In our review they have identified a whole range of new initiatives that can be done so when we make that appointment it will be all hands on deck for that person.”

“There is a lot of work to do but he has great staff in Paul Corrigan and Hayden Skipworth as two direct reports to that position.”

The role became vacant when James Byrne announced he would seek further opportunities away from football at the end of the season.

Skipworth will remain in the role of VFL coach after two seasons in charge of the club’s stand alone VFL side.