A CONTRACT extension for Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew that was imminent ahead of the start of the season has been put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

However, Suns chief executive Mark Evans said the club would swiftly resume discussions once through the COVID-19 fallout that has gripped the AFL season. 

Dew, who took over the Suns at the end of 2017, is out of contract at the end of 2020 but had been nearing a deal of at least two years before the competition was paused. 

"I'm confident that he'll be a long-term coach of the Gold Coast Suns," Evans said on Friday. 

"It's not the time to talk about it right now, we're all doing far more important things like stabilising the industry and working out the new work flows and connecting with players and staff. 

"But we'll get to that. I don't have any fears for that." 

The Suns, coming off a wooden-spoon season last year, opened their 2020 account with a poor loss to Port Adelaide.

Evans said the club would support a 'round-robin' fixture concept to cram in as many games as possible if the AFL looks to condense its scheduling in the second half of the season. 

AFL.com.au reported in March that the AFL was looking at sending clubs on the road for multiple games to decrease travelling times and to allow more games in a shorter period after putting the season on hold due to the coronavirus. 

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"We've certainly said to the AFL that our club will do whatever we have to to make sure we get the 17-game season underway and completed. 

"If that means going to Melbourne for three weeks to knock over four games, or to be part of a round-robin here or in Darwin or north Queensland or wherever it is, we'll do what we have to do." 

The Suns have had 75 per cent of their list remain in Queensland during the game's shutdown period, and some players are set to be involved in the Suns 'Community Crew service the club launched this week. 

The club will provide ready-to-eat meals to senior and vulnerable club members via staff who have been redeployed in the roles.

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"It was designed as a way we could reposition some of our staff at the Suns," he said. 

"Some of the players have volunteered to donate their services, so a meal could be delivered at your house by a Suns staff member, who are getting a small payment for that service, or it could be one of the players who coaches who have volunteered."