ST KILDA coach Scott Watters insists he isn't worrying about extending his contract beyond 2014 just yet.
The Saints' coach, who took over from Ross Lyon at the end of 2011, is out of contract at the end of next year.
He says while he wants to stay with his group beyond that term, joking he'd even like five more years, adding he isn't losing sleep over just when that will be confirmed.
"Whether that happens now or next year … the really pleasing thing at our footy club is our directors, our executive and our coaching group, we're all very much on the same page about what we need to do as a group," Watters said on Saturday on SEN.
"That will take care of itself. It doesn't really cause me great worry or angst.
"Ultimately that's the board's decision. I think any coach, you like to know that you're going to get the opportunity to take the group through a tough period, a period where you need to reshape the group.
"That's where we sit."
The Saints won 12 games last year under Watters but have fallen away this season with just three wins at the round 20 mark.
They are currently 16th on the ladder above only Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney, and there is a range of players already undergoing end of season surgery.
Watters said he believed he had the support of CEO Michael Nettlefold and the club's board.
He emphasised his desire to remain in the role to oversee the development of the young Saints, with eight debuting in 2013 alone with the latest elevated rookie Darren Minchington on Friday night against Hawthorn.
"We have great dialogue, we're all on the same page, we know we've got a lot of work to do," he said.
"If that comes, it comes, if it doesn't, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, I'm pretty focused on where we're at as a club and I'm enjoying working with this group.
"I'd love to see some of these young kids come through in two or three years time because I think they've got some real potential."
Meanwhile, Watters said it was "sad" that veteran Justin Koschitzke hadn't enjoyed football in a number of years.
Koschitzke, who is rehabbing a calf injury and is hopeful of playing his 200th game before the end of the season where he'll likely retire, told Triple M on Friday night the pressure and professionalism of being an elite player had sapped the fun from it.
"It was sad to hear, and I've had those conversations with Kosi," Watters said.
"He's worn the pressure of being a No.1 draft pick for many, many years and obviously his form has gone up and down over a long time.
"That pressure can [take a toll], there's no doubt about that."
In regards to playing his 200th, Watters said the Saints would do "everything to try and drag him across the line".
"Will he get there? I'd love him to get there [but] he's got a bit of work to do to get himself back up and going," he said.
"I don't like just handing out games to anyone but in a perfect world, I'd love to get him across the line."
Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
