Essendon Football Club wishes to advise the selection panel to appoint the Club’s interim senior coach for the 2014 season has been confirmed.

The panel comprises football director Chris Heffernan, interim CEO Ray Gunston, AFL Coaches Association CEO Danny Frawley (non voting), former Richmond and Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace and Human Resources Manager Hailey Grimes.

Interim CEO Ray Gunston said the panel met for the first time over the weekend to discuss the recruitment process.

“The selection panel has met and set the framework for the upcoming recruitment process,” Gunston said.

“The Club is confident the advisory panel has the experience and skills set required to select the best possible candidate for the job.”

“The process will be comprehensive and is expected to be completed in the next 3-4 weeks.”

Gunston said the interim coaching role was an extremely important appointment for the Club.

“We appreciate the appointment of an interim senior coach is a unique position for the Club and for the candidates to be in,” Gunston said.

“Importantly, the role has been designed to fit into a longer term structure of the football department and will incorporate a future position within our coaching group.”

The panel will now begin the rigorous process of interviewing a number of quality applicants for the position.

“In recent years the Club has undergone a significant period of growth and improvement on the field and our expectations for 2014 will be no different under an interim coach,” Gunston said

“We have a talented and united playing group who have shown they have the ability to compete with the best teams in the competition.”

Out of respect to the interview process and privacy of the candidates involved, the Club will not be in a position to make any further comment.

The club will communicate any developments as required.