“No, absolutely not. He’s been out of the game for a while, for a start-off ... but I just don’t think you can forget what took place several years ago,” Malthouse told Nine’s Today.

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“Those sorts of things, they’re unforgivable, what happened at Essendon. I personally don’t think it would be a good move at all.”

Hird had 41 wins from his 85 games in charge but the supplements saga destroyed the era of success the Bombers were tracking towards.

The saga also cost the club millions of dollars, derailed and ended careers, led to skipper Jobe Watson having his Brownlow Medal rescinded and, in 2017, led to Hird being hospitalised and spending a month in a clinic.

Watson urged caution over the weekend when asked if the Bombers should pursue Hird.

Mark Thompson, Hird’s assistant at the time, and coach in 2016, has spoken repeatedly of the mental damage the saga has had on him.

However, new club president David Barham says the Bombers want an experienced coach, and Kevin Sheedy - the four-time Essendon premiership coach and now influential board member - is supportive of Hird.

Those with senior coaching experience also include Leon Cameron, Ross Lyon and Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who has a year to run on his contract and has an uneasy relationship with club president David Koch. However, Koch said on Monday the Bombers were “dreaming” if they felt Hinkley would “go to a club like that in such turmoil”.

Experienced assistants Adam Kingsley and Adem Yze, who are in the running to replace Cameron at GWS, may also be under consideration. Bombers assistant Daniel Giansiracusa and former Bomber Dean Solomon also fit into the latter category.

Former Bomber Brendon Goddard, who attended Saturday night’s president’s function at the MCG, said it was “unlikely” Hird would return.

“They’ve made it clear yesterday after that board meeting, and the decision to sack Rutten, that they’re after an experienced coach - so that does narrow the actual candidates,” he said.

“What’s needed is time to do an external review, then add that to the internal review they’ve already had, and then make a really good decision and then go through an interview process with all the coaches they put on a shortlist. I think that needs to happen before names, like Hird in particular, get thrown around.”

Barham says he is an agent for change, and has begun plans to have an external review completed of his club, which has not won a final since 2004 and a flag since 2000. The review will include a detailed process to find the next coach.

Goddard, who was stand-in captain in 2016, said change other than just Rutten was needed for a club divided at several levels, including in the football department.

“It can’t only just be the coach. I’d expect, based on - after their external review in particular - that there’s probably more names to be pushed aside and heads to roll at Essendon.

“In this position, when a new board member takes over and makes strong statements, that David Barham has, that I think everyone’s on notice and everyone’s walking on eggshells. Their job’s not secure, regardless of their contract and situation.”

Chief executive Xavier Campbell has the full support of the board, Barham insisted.

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