ALASTAIR Clarkson received a "significant" offer from Melbourne to take over from Dean Bailey at the end of 2011, Clarkson's manager Liam Pickering has confirmed.

Pickering has also revealed Adelaide made a play for Clarkson to succeed Neil Craig in the same year.  

Almost two weeks ago, Clarkson denied receiving an offer from the Demons – a claim that was later refuted by Melbourne legend Garry Lyon, who was on the sub-committee that appointed current coach Mark Neeld. 

"They didn't come at me. I never spoke to anyone from Melbourne, and neither did my management," Clarkson told Fox Footy's On the Couch on May 20.

But Lyon then told Triple M the following Saturday there was "certainly" a deal put to Clarkson and he was "absolutely high on the priority list" as Melbourne went about choosing a new coach.  

On Saturday, Pickering clarified the situation, admitting Clarkson "got that one wrong" when denying an approach was made. 

"They [Melbourne] did make an approach, they did make a significant offer to Alastair, yes," Pickering told Off the Bench Radio on Saturday morning. 

"Clarko said, 'I'm really sorry mate, I threw you under the bus. I didn't mean to but I got asked the question and I know they hadn't spoken to me.'

"He's clarified that. He got that one wrong. They definitely approached me.

"He didn't meet with Melbourne. He didn't speak to them. I spoke to them, and to be perfectly honest, Clarko's instructions to me were, 'let's just do the deal with Hawthorn'.

"But Melbourne did make a very strong play for him, yes."

Pickering maintained Clarkson repeatedly told him he wanted to sign a new deal with the Hawks while the Demons and Crows were circling. 

"[Adelaide] spoke to me again. But Clarko said, 'I just want to concentrate on Hawthorn'," he said. 

"Yes, they [the Crows] did [make an offer]."

Pickering also said the talks with Melbourne about Clarkson happened "well before" he represented Neeld in negotiating his job. 

Clarkson signed his new contract with Hawthorn in August, 2011, which runs until the end of 2014.