FORMER Essendon premiership player Sean Wellman has returned to the Bombers as an assistant coach.

Wellman, who was an assistant coach with Melbourne for the past three seasons, is the first appointment of the James Hird era, and general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said he was delighted to welcome Wellman back to the club.

He said the appointment was part of a plan to put the best possible coaching group around the new coach.

“We know that Sean will bring a lot of coaching expertise to this group and James was particularly keen to get Sean on board as part of our coaching panel,” Hamilton said.

“Sean has had wonderful experience at the Bulldogs under Rodney Eade and at Melbourne under Dean Bailey - two coaches that we have the utmost respect for - and we think he will make a valuable contribution to the club.”

Melbourne's general manager of football operations Chris Connolly said the club was disappointed with Wellman's decision, “but we are confident there are a number of excellent candidates for this position and we will commence the recruitment process immediately.”

Wellman played 212 games for Essendon and Adelaide from 1994-2004. He played in the Bombers’ 2000 premiership team and won All Australian selection in 1998.