Following Nixon's statement on Monday night, in which he said he would take an "indefinite break" from his Flying Start management company and seek treatment for a "substance problem", independent investigator David Galbally QC advised Prendergast of his plans to finish the investigation and make recommendations to the board.
“I fully support David in completing the investigation,” Prendergast said.
“It is important that this process is allowed to run its course and every opportunity is given for the facts to emerge and be tested.”
Prendergast said neither he nor the AFLPA had received any formal notice from Nixon of his intention to stand aside.
“Nevertheless, I welcome Ricky’s re-affirmation of his willingness to co-operate fully with the investigation,” he said.
The investigation concerns allegations that Nixon engaged in a sexual liaison with the girl from St Kilda Football Club's nude photos scandal.
The veteran agent returned to Australia on Sunday after spending the two weeks since the story broke overseas.
After seeking a short extension on the term of his investigation so he can interview further witnesses, including Nixon, Galbally will now deliver his report next week.
The agent accreditation board will sit shortly after that to consider the report.
“Ricky Nixon’s move to stand aside has not had a bearing on the decision to grant the extension," Prendergast said.
"However, it is the case that his decision does remove some of the urgency from the investigation.”
Meanwhile, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said on Tuesday that Nixon’s decision to step away from his player management role was a “positive move”.
"I wasn't aware from a factual perspective that Ricky Nixon had an issue of substance abuse, but now that he's declared that, I wish him well in his rehabilitation,” Demetriou said.
"I'm pleased he's agreed to stand down from his duties as a player manager and hopefully he can get his life in order. Obviously, he's got some issues to deal with relating to substance abuse, as he put out in his statement."
Demetriou also rejected claims made by former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas that Nixon was “instrumental in Andrew Demetriou’s appointment at the AFL”, saying on Tuesday that “I thought I got my job on my merits”.
“They're just nonsensical comments and I'm not sure where Grant's coming from,” Demetriou said.
“I don’t treat anybody any differently regardless of my relationship with them. I understand I'm a close, personal friend of Ricky Nixon - that's simply not true. You meet a lot of people in football and [there] are a lot of people you associate with. I could say the same about several player agents, several club presidents and several CEOs.
"Grant Thomas and Ricky Nixon do not speak for the AFL. We speak for ourselves."
