DAVID HILLE says ousting embattled coach Matthew Knights would only further destabilise Essendon in what he believes has been the most unsettled period in his time at the club.

Speaking from Windy Hill on Monday morning - the day after another miserable display from his team - Hille backed his coach to be in charge beyond this year.

Knights is contracted until the end of the 2012 season and Hille said he and his teammates expected the coach to remain in charge next year.

However, he does not believe chairman David Evans or his board will need to clarify Knights' position in the coming weeks.

“I think the reality is that’ll be something for the board to decide and the club to decide collectively as [we’re] coming to the end of the season,” Hille said on Monday from Windy Hill.

“You, as I will, will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Knights is under the pump after the Bombers disappointing finish to 2010. On Sunday his team suffered its 14th loss of the season, going down to the Brisbane Lions by 27 points after trailing by as much as 58 early in the final term.

Despite mounting criticism, the coach remains defiant that he will coach on beyond this year despite the Bombers’ hierarchy insisting there will be a review at the club.

Hille believes a change of coach could create further disruption to a year Hille rated among his toughest at the club.

“We’re no stranger, obviously, to problems in the past," he said.

"I guess it has been unsettling, probably one of the more unsettling periods in my time, yes.

“All of this innuendo’s really just come off the back of one comment and we’ve got more cameras here after a loss than probably we ever have, so it certainly isn’t ideal.”

Hille said the players “definitely” wanted Knights and, like their coach, believed the club would stay the course.

“Obviously it’s not an easy time period for this club but I would have thought we would be looking back at this in a few years’ time and hopefully this makes us stronger.”

Hille said the team should share the responsibility of the Bombers’ poor season.

He also said the fact the Bombers’ side on Sunday had 13 players with fewer than 50 games’ experience - including a couple of Rising Star nominees - and 19 of their senior list missing would provide hope for the future.