PORT Adelaide is close to making an announcement on John James’ replacement as the club’s new CEO.

James left the club earlier this season after being offered a position with US funds management group Vanguard and coach Mark Williams said the Power had deliberately taken their time in finding a suitable successor.

“It’s really important we get the right person involved. I know the board have taken a long time and interviewed some terrific candidates, so I’m looking forward to that announcement,” Williams said on Monday.

“It’s good for the rest of the business just to have someone in charge. I spent a few hours yesterday talking to the person that’s been appointed and I think it will be terrific for our club for that person to have a long-term relationship with us.”

But Williams said the appointment of a new CEO was unlikely to bring forward his own contract negotiations with the club.

“It’s really entirely up to the club [when we negotiate my contract],” he said.

“I’ve got another year of my contract to go and over the last 12 years, [in which] three of them we’ve finished top and we’ve won a premiership, they never negotiated my contract any time prior to that [the end of the existing contract], so I can’t imagine they would do it now.”

Williams, who has been linked to several clubs, including the new Gold Coast franchise, said there had been some “misinformation” in the media, particularly concerning his desire to coach in Victoria.

“Having been asked what I want to do in the future, I can say I certainly want to coach Port Adelaide and, as long as they want me to be here, I want to be here. That’s the start and finish of it.

“And after the 15th time of being asked, ’yeah, but have you ever had thoughts of coaching in Melbourne?’ I say ‘yes’ and that leads the story.

“I can’t be there to help read the paper with every individual that opens it, so if they want to believe what’s written in the paper, they’re way off the track.

“If I wanted to do what has been maintained that I might’ve been able to do [coach in Melbourne], I could’ve done it and I didn’t - I stayed here.

“The challenges are immense here and I’m looking forward to meeting those and getting the club back to where it has been in the last 10 years.”