Brad Scott was happy for Zach Merrett to leave Essendon and hopes the former captain will still find a new AFL home.
In his first interview since being sacked as the Bombers' coach, Scott said the club was still probably a couple of years away from being a competitive finals team.
He said the decision to sack him came as a surprise, but he understood it because of the mounting pressure brought by Essendon's woeful form.
