In an intriguing comment, Watson, the father of Bombers skipper Jobe, has also suggested that rival clubs with a coach under contract should even consider poaching stand-in coach Mark Thompson, should the Bombers not want him or he decides to move on, once the season is done.

Hird is due back in Melbourne on July 28 from a study tour in France, and could appear in the Federal Court as the case he and the Bombers have brought against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority gets under way. That trial begins on August 11.

Hird's 12-month AFL-imposed suspension for governance failures as part of the club's controversial supplements program expires on August 25, meaning he could return to the coach's box alongside Thompson in some capacity for the round 23 clash against Carlton, and remain should the revitalised Bombers make the finals.

Disregarding the emotion around the Hird saga, Watson said Thompson, a dual premiership coach at Geelong, was the better coach when compared with Hird, with three years' service and one finals campaign to his credit.

"If you were taking all of that out of it, then you are talking about a guy who has coached for only a couple of years against a guy who has already been a premiership coach. You would have to say on that evidence alone, that 'Bomber' Thompson would be better equipped to coach," Watson said.

"But that hasn't been the situation there at Essendon. We know the situation now is that James Hird will come back and coach.

"I think the extension of this is, there is no understanding in my mind anything but that will happen but the question is then, should Bomber Thompson be out of coaching football?

"James Hird comes back and coaches - again, should somebody move, even if they have a coach at the moment, should there be anybody in the competition that is looking at Bomber Thompson now thinking to themselves, 'OK, he is the bloke we should have controlling our club's destiny right now'."

Speaking on Channel Seven's Talking Footy, North Melbourne great Wayne Carey warned the Bombers that if Hird "comes back, the circus comes with him" this season.

Watson said it would be best for the Bombers if Hird did not return to the club until its season was done.

"I think so. And I don't know if this has been spelt out loud and clear or not, but I think he should stay out of the coaching situation until Essendon's season is completed, whenever that might be," he said.

"He should stay away from coaching and being at the club until next season."

Watson played an important role in late 2010 in securing Hird as coach and Thompson as his senior assistant when the Bombers ousted Matthew Knights.

Bombers chairman Paul Little has said Thompson "has a clear understanding of the process" that will take place later in the season.

In February, Little said Hird would be welcomed back for the round 23 clash.

“I would be surprised if Mark didn’t invite him into the box because of the contribution he will make. Very surprised,” Little said.

“But that is up to Mark and James and I won’t second guess that, it’s too far away now.”

The Bombers are likely to seek AFL feedback before any decision is ratified.

New AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has baulked at questions when asked whether he felt Hird should return next season.

Hird's coaching future, however, could be heavily influenced by the outcome of the Federal Court trial. Should he and the Bombers lose their case, alleging the joint probe last year by the AFL and ASADA was unlawful, then the 34 current and past players issued with show-cause notices would almost certainly have to respond to ASADA and prove why they should not be added to the Register of Findings.

This is the first step towards infraction notices - and possible bans - being administered. If infraction notices were to be handed out, Watson has said it would be difficult for Hird to return.