CARLTON chief executive Cain Liddle remains adamant the decision not to renew Stephen Silvagni's contract owed to the challenges of him having two sons playing for the club. 

The topic of former list boss Silvagni's exit from Ikon Park – finally confirmed last week after months of speculation – dominated the Blues' online members' forum on Monday night. 

A series of angry members peppered with questions a group of Carlton's off-field leaders, including president Mark LoGiudice, Liddle and football boss Brad Lloyd.

Liddle was asked about but did not address reports of him having a fractured relationship with Silvagni, saying the club's messaging on the latter's departure was "completely transparent". 

Silvagni not taking part in list management and match committee discussions about his sons Jack and Ben was "an increasingly challenging issue" and not in the Blues' "best interests", the CEO said.

"No one is questioning the role that Stephen played in rebuilding the list," Liddle said.

"I and others at the club have noted on many occasions the improvements that have been made. 

"The much tougher decision is to bring someone else in who can play a part in all relevant decisions and discussions that take place within the football department." 

Liddle's involvement in recruiting, particularly the wooing of Tiger-turned-Sun Brandon Ellis was another matter of discontent. 

Carlton ultimately cooled on Ellis, who toured Ikon Park as part of the recruiting process, on the eve of finals after being the frontrunner to sign the then-free agent for most of the year.

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"I want to be clear on this: all players who were approached from other clubs as part of our 2019 list management strategy were discussed and rigorously debated over the course of many months at list management," Liddle said.

"Brandon was one of a number of players who our list management sub-committee identified very early in the season. I was involved in Brandon’s tour of Ikon. 

"Everyone on list management was very clear of the role I was playing with Brandon … I was one of Brandon's coaches, both at the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro in the National Championships, and I obviously spent a number of years with him at Richmond. 

"So it was agreed that we would leverage that relationship in our discussions with Brandon, who was set to become a free agent." 

Liddle also stated the Blues were "very unified" and "perfectly aligned on where we want to take this football club" after a long period of mediocrity.

Carlton ended up trading for returning veteran Eddie Betts and emerging Hawthorn ruckman Marc Pittonet before picking up wantaway Sun Jack Martin in the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft. 

The Blues were unable to strike a deal with Gold Coast for Martin in the Telstra AFL Trade Period. 

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However, a heavily front-ended contract request was enough to dissuade other suitors from nabbing him before Carlton in the pre-season draft. 

Lloyd said the Blues were "still very well placed" with their salary cap position despite the nature of Martin's deal.

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Earlier, Carlton trumpeted breaking its pre-Christmas membership record, already surpassing 50,000. 

The Blues also announced they had slashed $2.4 million off their outstanding debt and were aiming to be debt free as soon as 2021.