Rutten's position is really untenable now. The club clearly don't want him there, but they have no replacement and no desire to pay him out. If I was Rutten I would be conflicted - want to leave the place because they're such arseholes, want to stay because the coaching job is a work in progress.
I reckon they will likely sack him and go for Hird. I also think it will be one of the dumbest moves ever. Hird may be a decent coach, who knows, hasn't shown much to date but maybe got the gig too early last time. Hird has done little or no apprenticeship and even if he turns out to be a decent coach it will take time, as in a few years at least. Plus there is the baggage he carries from the drug scandal. Given the idiocy at that club and the ridiculous expectations, Hird is likely the only one who would take on the job because the probability is that it will be a career killer.
At a fundamental level Essendon do not seem to realise just where they are at. They need a better list and a big clean out in a lot of areas. Yes, they could well make a few finals, most likely bottom half of the 8, might even win a final or two over the years. But they look nothing like a club and team who can get back to contending for the flag. Compare them to rising teams like Carlton and Freo, there is no resemblance, Carlton and Freo both seem to understand the route to the top takes time, they are proud of the steps they have made but know they are still a rung or two away from the top. Essendon seem to think they are very close but they're still looking for the ladder.
DS