One-time Essendon coaching hopeful Alan Richardson has left the Bombers to become Carlton's senior assistant coach.

Although Richardson didn't get the job he wanted at Essendon - who appointed club great James Hird as senior coach last week - his new role at Carlton is a step up after his two seasons with the Bombers.

Richardson said he didn't know whether two-time Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson, who quit the Cats on Monday, would end up back at Windy Hill where he is a former skipper.

But Richardson knew the writing was on the wall for himself.

"Richmond last year and the Bombers this year, it was a fantastic experience to go for those (senior coaching) roles," Richardson told SEN Radio on Wednesday.

"It's disappointing to be overlooked.

"It has been a fairly stressful time. I was in the mix at the Port Adelaide one and had a real crack at the Essendon, so I haven't really had a break.

"I was disappointed not to get the role, understanding very much the direction they were then going to take once James (Hird) had been appointed.

"And that was given James hadn't coached before, he was going to need some people who had coached senior footy around him.

"That appointment has yet to be finalised. There has been a lot of speculation about `Bomber' (Thompson).

"I don't really know where that's going to end up. But it meant the role I was looking to play wasn't going to be there at the footy club.

"Luckily for me ... I find myself now at a great footy club with a really substantial role so I'm very much looking forward to it."

Richardson said knew Blues chief Greg Swann very well from their days working together at Collingwood and he said his sons play junior football with Ratten's boys "so that connection is also pretty strong".

Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Carlton had offered Richardson a "very senior coaching role".

"Considering one of our big philosophies at Essendon is about developing people, we were never going to stand in his way," Hamilton said.

Former Collingwood player Richardson has also been an assistant coach with the Western Bulldogs and a player development coach for the Magpies.

Apart from Richardson, Gary O'Donnell is also departing Essendon after six years working under Kevin Sheedy and Matthew Knights.

The Bombers have de-listed 58-game big man Jason Laycock and rookie John Williams, who played one game in 2008.

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