MELBOURNE has already spoken to Paul Roos about taking up its vacant coaching post, but the prime candidate has ruled himself out of the race at this stage.

Newly appointed Demons chief executive Peter Jackson revealed on radio on Saturday that he had called Roos to gauge his interest in the position.

"I've spoken to Paul and his comments to me were exactly the same as the other night (Monday) on television," Jackson told Triple M.

"At the moment he doesn't see himself coaching. It's not that (contract offer) at all. But I've asked him the question and maybe, who knows?"

Roos said on Fox Footy during the week that he did not have that burning desire to return to coaching at the moment but Jackson said he had not conceded.

Jackson said Roos' reasons for a return to coaching could not be dictated by the pay packet, but rather the opportunity to see a plan through and help to turn the struggling club around.

"Maybe we can convince him over time it's a challenge that's going to envigorate him," Jackson said.

 

"He has to want to coach. No amount of money is going to make him want to coach, he has to want to do it for the right reasons."

 

Rodney Eade and Mark Williams are two other contenders being talked about in the Melbourne coaching race, with Jackson confirming the club was only looking at experienced types.

 

Eade admitted on Fox Footy last week that he still had the "fire in the gut" to rejoin the senior ranks.

 

Jackson said a proposed AFL Coaches Association charter that would ensure Eade (Collingwood) or Williams (Richmond) needed to stay at their clubs until the end of the season could be a potential hurdle in their hiring.

 

"People are going to want to talk about what they may do in 2014 anyway, so long as they've got obligations and responsibilities to an existing employer," he told ABC Grandstand.

"And that's only fair and reasonable. I think that's just something we have to deal with."

Despite League boss Andrew Demetriou confirming the AFL would have a role in selecting Melbourne's board and coach, Jackson said it would largely rest on what he and those in charge decided upon.

"They're not providing overbearing influence, they're providing great support," Jackson said.

"They have obligations to the other 17 clubs and that's to make sure they just don't pour money into a big black hole."