THE CAREER of North Melbourne key forward Nathan Thompson appears to be over after the club changed its mind on earlier plans to keep him for next season.

Thompson, 30, returned to football in 2008 after missing all of last year with a knee injury, but was unable to recapture the form that made him the Kangaroos' leading goalkicker in the previous two seasons.

The club were initially reluctant to make a statement about its intention to delist Thompson, with football manager Donald McDonald telling the Herald Sun: "We haven't released a statement yet. We're still in negotiation with his manager".

But North Melbourne president James Brayshaw confirmed that Thompson had been told this week he was not required for next season, in contrast to the message he had received some weeks earlier.

"The indication a while back was that he was required," Brayshaw told the Nine Network's Footy Show.

"You reassess your list right the way through the year, we got to the end of the year, had a very disappointing finish, lost the three final games horribly.

"We had a list management meeting at the end of it and hard decisions had to be made, it is regrettable."

Brayshaw praised Thompson for his handling of the rapid change of fortunes.

"At all footy clubs you have very serious and awkward and regrettable conversations with senior players at the end of every season, we've had to have them with a number of players," he said.

"Nathan has been a wonderful North Melbourne person, he's a class act and he's handled the last week with aplomb and should be congratulated for it."

Thompson played a total of 179 AFL games, 119 with Hawthorn from 1998-2004 and 60 with the Kangaroos, including 15 this season.

An official statement regarding Thompson's future is expected shortly.