Essendon great James Hird is expected to join new coach Brendan McCartney in a director of coaching role at VFL club Port Melbourne after knocking back the senior coaching role due to his business commitments.

Port Melbourne will make the announcement on Monday after Adam Skrobalak coached the club to a win over the Northern Bullants in his final match in charge on Saturday. Two sources who wished to remain anonymous as the club had not yet released their decision publicly confirmed the new appointments.

The pair worked together at Essendon after McCartney joined the Bombers in Hird’s first season as senior coach in 2011. He had worked alongside Mark Thompson at Geelong as the club won the 2007 and 2009 flags and quickly won Hird’s respect for his ability to develop young players.

McCartney then became Western Bulldogs senior coach in 2013 before continuing his coaching career as an assistant at Melbourne. He then became a coach at North Ballarat, where he has worked the past four seasons, and has been working part-time at Collingwood for the past two years. He has also coached at Western Heights’ College in Geelong.

Last Thursday night, he told the North Ballarat players he was leaving at the end of the season but would coach them through the upcoming finals series.

Port Melbourne chased Hird for the senior job, but he was unable to pursue the role because of his business commitments as managing director of Euree Asset management, which manages about $150 million in investor funds.

He remained in discussions to stay involved in the club where his son Tom plays. With McCartney to be appointed, Hird will come on board to support him and the club’s other coaches, and also play a role developing players that does not require a full-time commitment.

The pairing is a boost for the standalone VFL club which celebrated its 150th year this season.