ESSENDON chairman Paul Little has declared the way the club self reported its controversial supplements program was full of mistakes.
When the Bombers asked ASADA to investigate their concerns over a possible use of prohibited supplements in February last year, it started the ball rolling in a story that dominated headlines throughout 2013.
Little, who became Essendon's chairman on July 29 last year, believes his club could have handled the situation far better.
"We've got the view that self reporting might not have worked all that well for us," Little told Triple M on Friday afternoon.
"We gave away all of our leverage and all of our rights to control the situation.
"Whilst self reporting allowed the various authorities to get involved, it gave them an unfettered access to the football club and individuals and to everything else.
"I just think we could have overly complicated a process that might not have needed to be that complicated."
The penalties handed down by the AFL were severe, with coach James Hird receiving a 12-month suspension for his role in the saga, while the club was stripped of its right to participate in the 2013 finals series.
"In any situation you've got to have control over your own destiny and we didn't have that," Little said.
Little said it was his obligation to be open and honest with Essendon supporters about the decision to re-install Hird into the coaching role from next season.
"In relation to James we've made that decision and it's the view of the board, and my view, that the right decision was made and James will come back as coach," he said.
"Mark (Thompson) knows and understands that and we've got total clarity around that."
Little is hopeful that Thompson will remain at the Bombers, even after he is forced to relinquish the top job.
"We want Mark to stay and it really is Mark's call as to whether he does want to stay," Little said.
"We're not putting any pressure on him to make that call now and I think that's the reason why you're seeing a fresher Mark.
Little reiterated the 2014 Bombers were entirely under Thompson's reins, despite Hird's impending return to the club in August – once his suspension ends.
"It's a conversation we (Little, Thompson and Hird) need to have at the appropriate time."
