Essendon Chairman Paul Little says the Club will leave ‘no stone unturned’ in its search for its next Senior Coach.

In his pre-match Chairman’s address ahead of the game against Richmond, Little said the panel that will help select the next Coach is close to being announced.

“We will leave no stone unturned in finding the best possible candidate for the role,” he said.

Little said the club hopes to present its new coach at the members forum in October.

“We’re going to sit down with our members and listen to their questions, endeavor to answer them and introduce the new coach of the Essendon Football Club.”

In one of his last major speeches as the Essendon Chairman, Little covered a number of significant issues.

On the WADA appeal, Little is hopeful the matter could be over by Christmas.

“We’re confident and hopeful that the process could conclude by late November, early December,” he said.

“Wouldn’t it be an amazing thing to have that for the first time in three years to have our playing group able to take the field without the constant burden of this ASADA mess hanging over them.”

Little praised the resilience of the players and also the supporters who have signed on in record numbers.

“That 60,000 figure puts us into fourth place of all AFL clubs and that is an amazing outcome,’ Little said.

Little also revealed the Club will shortly unveil a new three-year strategic plan and announce a special blockbuster match for next season.

“We have Dreamtime, we have the Anzac Day clash and Kevin Sheedy has been busily working on a new initiative that we are all very excited about,” he said.