Essendon have rejected a media report suggesting coach James Hird has been urged to resign by Thursday over the AFL's supplements scandal.
Hird's assistant coach Mark Thompson scoffed at a Triple M Adelaide radio report that Hird would step aside this week.
"He won't stand down, I know that, and he shouldn't," Thompson told Fox Footy's AFL 360 program on Monday night.
The Bombers released their own statement late on Monday night.
"Essendon Football Club categorically denies the baseless rumours and speculation tonight in the media about an 'ultimatum' in relation to the future of coach James Hird," the club said.
"As a club we are incredibly frustrated by the decision of some sections of the media to report unfounded and untested gossip."
Thompson said the players had been affected mentally by the supplements saga and it showed in their 79-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday.
"Our club is sort of fighting internally and it's the first time the players had seen a bit of that," Thompson said.
"And then to get the report handed down, these guys, to prepare for a game takes a lot of work and takes a lot of concentration.
"They were obviously distracted because their career is on the line."
The league was also under attack on Monday as the AFL denied a claim by former Essendon captain Tim Watson that a decision has already been made to strip the embattled club of premiership points.
Watson said the AFL would announce the punishment at the end of the month, before the start of the finals.
The AFL and Essendon now have copies of an interim ASADA report into last year's controversial supplements program at the club.
When asked if the league had already decided to strip Essendon of premiership points, AFL deputy chief executive Gil McLachlan replied sarcastically: "I think you're well ahead of the curve here.
"Andrew Dillon, the general counsel of the AFL and the head of our integrity unit, is considering the report," McLachlan added.
"The first thing's first, to decide if there's any action to be taken."
Separately, ASADA also will decide if the Bombers face specific anti-doping charges.
Essendon have been under ASADA and AFL investigation since February 5.
Initially, the plan was for ASADA to make its findings and for the AFL to then decide if it would lay any charges.
But ASADA has new enhanced powers which came into effect on August 1.
So as its investigation into the Bombers continues, it handed the AFL the 400-page interim report so the league could decide if it needs to take separate action.
The league can take premiership points from Essendon, suspend individuals and even strip Watson's son Jobe of his 2012 Brownlow Medal under broad rules.
Any ASADA sanctions would be for specific breaches of the anti-doping code.
McLachlan was tight-lipped on when the AFL would announce its findings on Essendon.
"We're keen to bring this to a head before the finals," he said.
