Essendon Chairman David Evans has released the following statement.

I want to make this really clear - tonight was a regular and scheduled monthly Board meeting.

In relation to media reports late this afternoon, I am not standing down as Chairman and the Board did not ask me to explain my version of events.  

This was a routine board meeting, which we've spent considerable time implementing many of the recommendations from the Ziggy Switkowski Report.

Yes we've got some big issues ahead us but we're all awaiting the ASADA investigation to be completed now.