Former Richmond and Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace believes that Mark Thompson should continue coaching Essendon in 2015, despite James Hird being contracted to do so.

Thompson, who has stepped into the breach left by Hird during the latter's 12-month suspension from the game, has taken Essendon to seventh position on the ladder. The Bombers are now in the box seat to make the finals, an impressive feat given the long-term absence of captain Jobe Watson with a hip tendon injury.

Wallace believes that Essendon would be better served keeping dual Geelong premiership coach Thompson rather than honouring its agreement with Hird.

“If I’m sitting there as the president of the footy club, I’m picking Bomber Thompson,” Wallace said on SEN on Monday morning.

“Just have a look at the record of the two people. I think the question’s very, very easy. You’ve got one man who’s shown now that he’s still on top of his game, he has his record behind him, he is an Essendon person as well, so 100 per cent for me it would be Bomber Thompson.”

Having been enjoying a four-month study trip in France, Hird will be back in Melbourne on July 28, a fortnight before his shared court action with the Essendon Football Club against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is due to commence.