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AAP
AAP
Sport
Justin Chadwick

Walls, Lewis to help Bombers coach search

Essendon have called on the services of AFL great Robert Walls to help find a new coach. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Essendon have promised to leave no stone unturned after revealing Robert Walls and Jordan Lewis will be among a six-person committee to lead an external review into the AFL club and help them find a new coach.

The Bombers' internal failings have been laid bare over the past fortnight, with several of the club's heavyweights falling on their sword amid the turmoil.

The club's disastrous late attempt to lure Alastair Clarkson drew further criticism, with coach Ben Rutten forced to endure days of uncertainty and public embarrassment before being sacked.

Chief executive Xavier Campbell and board member Simon Madden are among the key figures to depart, while football director Sean Wellman will step down once his replacement has been appointed and the handover completed.

Paul Brasher, who was replaced as president by David Barham earlier this month, also quit the board as infighting grew.

Finance director Peter Allen will depart after December's AGM.

In a letter from the president on Friday, Barham unveiled the first part of the club's "reset" plan.

Walls and Hawthorn premiership star Lewis will join chair Josh Mahoney, Melbourne Vixens netball coach Simone McKinnis, former NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn and Bombers board of director Dorothy Hisgrove as part of the six-person committee.

They will be entrusted with conducting an external review as well as driving the process to select the next coach.

The external club review and the coaching sub-committee will make recommendations to the board, who will then make the final decisions.

"The coaching process will be thorough and rigorous. This is a well credentialed group of individuals who all bring diverse and unique skill sets," Barham wrote on the club's website.

"I have been clear that we cannot continue to only review ourselves and this external review is critical for the club's success moving forward.

"This review will be comprehensive, robust and integrated. We will leave "no stone unturned" in this process.

"We are committed to making the necessary changes to deliver our club its next AFL premiership."

Essendon have already stated they want an experienced coach, with Ross Lyon, Don Pyke, Justin Leppitsch, Leon Cameron, and Mark Williams among the names already floated.

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