CHIEF executive Steven Trigg has dismissed reports Adelaide was trumped by Melbourne in a race to secure ex-Collingwood assistant Mark Neeld as its senior coach, saying the Crows' "preferred candidate" remains in the mix.

The Crows were the first club to start the search for a new coach after Neil Craig resigned from the role in July, but the Demons became the first club to make an appointment, signing Neeld to a three-year deal on Saturday.

There were reports Neeld had been offered both the Melbourne and Adelaide coaching jobs, but Trigg insisted the Crows were still on track to claim their man.

"Our preferred, ideal candidate is still with us," Trigg told Adelaidenow.

"It's not true one or more candidates have slipped through our hands."

Trigg and the rest of Adelaide's coaching selection panel were in Perth on Sunday to interview West Coast assistant and former Collingwood captain Scott Burns.

South Australian Burns, who was drafted to the Magpies from SANFL club Norwood in 1992, remains the favourite to replace Craig.

Interim coach Mark Bickley has already made his final presentation to the selection panel.