Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson has revealed he went to James Hird’s house the night the embattled former-coach parted ways with the club.

Thompson and Hird have had a tense relationship in recent times after reports emerged that the ex-Geelong coach wanted the top Essendon job once Hird returned from suspension.

The 1993 Premiership captain delivered an impassioned speech about the club at the 2014 Best and Fairest count, which many interpreted to be a bid for the role.

But Thompson rejected he was after Hird’s job and said the pair caught up earlier this week.

• Essendon and James Hird part company 
• James Hird fires back at Bomber Thompson 

“I said sorry. I think he was really upset. There was other people around and we just talked about the club, the time and some funny memories,” Thompson told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“He got a different version of events [on the night of the 2014 Best and Fairest], there was some words added by some people that made me in bad light … It looked as though I was trying to get his job.

“There’s one thing about ‘Hirdy’, when he’s got something on his mind he doesn’t hold back.”

Hird’s former team-mate thinks he could have been a good coach for the Bombers with the right people around him.

And the 51-year-old rubbished claims he could coach the side in 2016 now Hird had gone.

“It’s a bigger job than most to be the coach of that club … Someone with a bit of life experience and game experience,” he said.

“It doesn’t have to be a senior coach but a good long-term assistant coach. Not someone who’s got a good reputation because he’s at a club that’s been successful.”