Suspended Essendon coach James Hird won't work at Melbourne Storm during ban James Hird is serving a 12-month suspension. EXILED Essendon coach James Hird will not be at Melbourne Storm in an official capacity next year. Storm coach Craig Bellamy has been approached by AFL Coaches Association president Danny Frawley to see if he would be open to the idea of mentoring Hird. The two men have not yet spoken and sources close to Storm yesterday suggested the yet-to-be defined arrangement may not go beyond a one-off meeting over a cup of coffee. Any continuing mentoring - if it does eventuate - is set to be a personal arrangement between Bellamy and Hird separate to the NRL club. The Bombers legend will not be a Storm employee next year, nor will he be paid by the club. Not because of any concerns about Hird's character, but simply because no role exists for him. There are also fears that Hird's presence at Storm would create an unnecessary distraction and spark a media circus. If Hird visits the club it will be for observational purposes, which could extend to watching training or sitting in the coaches' box during a game. Speculation has swirled for some time that Hird will be at Storm next year with the club repeatedly denying the talk. Bellamy himself was bemused when the rumour first got back to him given Hird has no rugby league background. But when it became clear Hird might be looking for a mentor, Bellamy was open to the idea. Bellamy is seen as a perfect for Hird given he has experience rebuilding a club that has been brought to its knees. Storm was stripped of the 2007 and 2009 NRL premierships and forced to play for no points in 2010 after it was found guilty of salary cap breaches. With Bellamy in charge, Storm won the premiership just two years later. While the circumstances are different, Hird will be charged with rebuilding the Bombers when his suspension is served. Hird and Bellamy are set to meet for the first time in the coming weeks. It will happen before November 9, when Bellamy and Storm football manager Frank Ponissi head to the United States. The pair will visit a number of sporting franchises, including the NFL's Miami Dolphins, for an insight into how they operate.