ST KILDA has appointed a panel of four club directors to review the entire football department, including coach Scott Watters, who has one year to run on his contract.
The review, which has been underway for three weeks, is ongoing and also involves head of football Chris Pelchen, who is understood to be advising the panel of directors.
While most clubs conduct a review of their football departments at the end of the season, the timing of St Kilda's is sensitive with Watters entering the final year of his current contract.
The coach has been in charge since the end of 2011, overseeing a tough period for the club as it rebuilds after a sustained period of finals involvement between 2004 and 2011.
Outgoing chief executive Michael Nettlefold said last month the club would look at extending Watters' contract before the start of the 2014 season.
Nettlefold, however, announced his resignation last Friday and will be replaced when a suitable appointment is found.
It is considered likely that Watters would either emerge from the current review with a new contract or a decision would be deferred while he serves the final year of his current deal.
The panel of directors is looking at the entire structure of the football department and its wider coaching group.
The Saints are understood to have aspirations to appoint a strategy and innovations coach to keep pace with rival football departments.
The position held by football manager Greg Hutchison was made redundant in September, while development coach Jaymie Graham has left the club.
At last month's best and fairest, president Greg Westaway was formally replaced by board member Peter Summers after serving his maximum term of six years.
