Dean Solomon has decided to leave Essendon, changing his mind after initially saying he would remain at the club for the final year of his contract in 2027.
The Bombers confirmed on Friday that their interim coach would return to live with his family in northern New South Wales after relocating to take up an assistant coach position at the end of last year.
Solomon’s exit leaves another vacancy for the Bombers to fill in their threadbare assistant panel under new coach Mark McVeigh, following the departures of forwards coach Cam Roberts and midfield coach Ben Jacobs.
The Herald Sun revealed on Thursday the Bombers were in talks with premiership player Mark Johnson to take on a new role as tackling coach, while the club is also targeting Sydney assistant coach Amon Buchanan, who worked with McVeigh at the Swans.
The 2000 premiership player resigned from his board position to take up the backline coach role after the Bombers scrambled to fill the void on their coaching panel left by Daniel Giansiracusa’s departure to Hawthorn.
He took the reins from Brad Scott after the senior coach’s sacking in May, but ultimately decided not to run for the permanent role after managing just one win in his 12 games at the helm.
Before announcing he would not contest the position, Solomon said after the Bombers’ round 16 loss to North Melbourne that he would be at the club in “whatever” role next season.
“I’m contracted until next year, so whether I’m filling water bottles at half-time or I’m (an) assistant coach, or whatever, I’m here,” he said in June.
“I love this footy club, it’s a great football club, and we’re in the swamp right now. It’s been a tough period of time for a long period of time, but I want to be in here rolling my sleeves up to help this football club, and whatever that is, I’ll play my role within that.”
Essendon president Andrew Welsh said the club would have “preferred” for Solomon to remain next season, but understood his decision.
“He has put connection and passion back at the centre of this place, on and off the field. The work he has put in with our players, our coaches and our staff has been tireless, and this club will feel the benefit of it for years,” Welsh said.
“Dean has never once made any of it about himself. That is exactly why he is so well regarded here.
“He did all of it living away from his wife and children. They carried that with him, and our gratitude and thanks go to them as much as to Dean.
“While we’d prefer to have him with us next season, we understand and respect his decision completely.”
Solomon said the last few months had shown him “it was not the right time to be away from my young family year on year”.
“(The family) support of me and the club has been incredible, but it is time to go home,” he said.
“I am proud of this playing group. The results have not reflected where we want to be, but I have seen these players grow every day, and our members have every reason to be excited about the development of this group ahead. They are made of the right stuff.
“Get behind them and Mark (McVeigh) from day one in 2027 and give them the best Essendon support possible. There is nothing better than running out in front of the red and black faithful.”