MARK Thompson fears Geelong could lose Brenton Sanderson altogether if the club doesn’t anoint him as its next senior coach.

An assistant to Thompson since 2007, Sanderson has emerged as the front-runner to win the top job at Port Adelaide, which was vacated when the Power cut ties with Mark Williams in early July.

Thompson, who will step down from his position at the end of the 2011 season, has said that Sanderson should take over from him.

However, he doesn’t believe the Geelong hierarchy will implement the type of formal succession plan put in place at Collingwood and the Sydney Swans, where Nathan Buckley and John Longmire will replace Mick Malthouse and Paul Roos.

“I don’t think our club’s going to give any guarantees,” Thompson told afl.com.au.

“I think Cooky (chief executive Brian Cook) has done it a couple of times and it’s burnt him.

“If we couldn’t keep [Sanderson], because we couldn’t guarantee him a position, then I think that would be a mistake, too.”

After starting his career with Adelaide and spending one season at Collingwood, Sanderson played 199 games with the Cats between 1995 and 2005.

He was an assistant coach at Port Adelaide in 2006.

Thompson said he had a huge amount of respect for Sanderson and that his history with the club should be considered.

“He’s a Geelong person,” Thompson said.

“I think he’s done a marvellous job. If he wants to coach senior footy, and I know he does, then he’s more than ready to get a job.”

Thompson, who has coached the Cats to two premierships from three grand finals since he took over for the 2000 season, has a winning percentage of more than 60.

Yet he’s adamant that next year will be his last at the helm.

“I think I’ve had a great run here and I think the players are ready to hear a different message,” Thompson said.

“It’s time to hopefully give Sando or Blake (Caracella) or someone else we really love here an opportunity.

“They’re ready and they’re entitled to that.”