FORMER AFL executive Simon Lethlean is looking forward to "being judged on performance and hard work again" after stepping back into the sport as St Kilda's football boss.
Lethlean resigned from his high-profile position as the League's football operations manager last July when news emerged he had an affair with an employee.
Breaking his silence after a "distressing and remorseful time", Lethlean told SEN he was eager to repay the Saints' faith.
"It's been an interesting six months for me. I've learnt a lot," Lethlean said.
"The ongoing discussion about my situation doesn't impact me, it impacts my wife and family who didn't do anything to deserve that.
"So that's been distressing for them and it's time to move on for me and my family now and we're doing that.
"I'm going to work hard and look forward to being judged on performance and hard work again, which I'm really comfortable in digging in and doing.
"I want to bring as much impact and effort to the St Kilda footy club who have shown faith in me and my family and support.
"I want to repay them. I'm going to work hard to do so."
Lethlean was strongly-linked to Carlton's vacant CEO position in October but he refused to address speculation he had been offered the job by president Mark LoGiudice before Cain Liddle was appointed.
"I understand there's been a public discussion on that topic, but I'm general manager of football at St Kilda Football Club now and I'm not going to discuss management roles and processes at other clubs," he said.
Two weeks into his new job, Lethlean is relishing being in a club environment ahead of a season of high expectation for the Saints, who haven't featured in finals since 2011.
"You can feel the hunger of a playing group that's ready to really contend," he said.
"I've been really impressed with the players, leaders and coaches.
"Richmond showed everyone last year that you can turn around performance by seeking to improve across all parts of the club, and St Kilda are really buoyed by that."
Lethlean said the Saints, who announced former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin's contract extension on Monday, would field their "fittest and best" available team for the upcoming AFLX matches next month.
