THE FUTURE of star Port Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak is again the subject of speculation with sacked coach Matthew Primus and club CEO Keith Thomas admitting recent events might cause him to rethink his future.

Out-of-contract Boak, whose family is from Victoria, has been heavily pursued by a number of clubs - notably Geelong - but he told teammates he would remain with Port Adelaide.

» 'Port needs a shake-up'

However Boak, who is close to Primus, is reported to be ready to put a stop to contract talks with the Power and again contemplate a return to his home state.

Thomas confirmed at the media conference announcing Primus' departure that Boak had told the Power he wanted to remain beyond this season and that contract talks were "right at the tail end".

But he was forced to concede that the exits of Primus and club president Brett Duncanson could see the 23-year-old rethink his decision.

"I think any significant change requires thought," Thomas said.

"I would like to think that Boaky would understand the decision, he would understand the motivation behind those decisions; he has a love for the football club, but in the end it will be his call."

When arrived at the club on Monday morning, Boak refused to comment on whether the Primus decision would impact on his future at Port.

A dejected Primus said Boak had indicated he wanted to stay at the club, "but it was before the weekend".

If Primus' departure was a catastrophic event for Port Adelaide, Boak's would tip it into turmoil.

Primus' tenure was one of change for the Power.

He oversaw the retirements of 2004 premiership captain Warren Tredrea and premiership players Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan, both of whom would later sign with Greater Western Sydney.

The exciting but inconsistent Daniel Motlop was shown the door as the coach looked to rebuild the battered club; in total, 12 players from the list Primus inherited no longer remain.

When Primus took over the Power had four first-round draft picks from the previous two NAB AFL Drafts on their books in Hamish Hartlett (pick 4, 2008), John Butcher (8, 2009), Andrew Moore (9, 2009) and Jasper Pittard (16, 2009), as well as the highly touted Travis Boak (5, 2006).

Primus added another in Ben Jacobs with pick No. 16 at the 2010 draft and, at around the same time, the Power and the historic SANFL Port Adelaide club merged in a move aimed at boosting off-field operations as well as providing disenfranchised supporters with a rekindled sense of ownership.

A solid foundation was thought to have been laid, but 2011 was the season from hell.

An embarrassing AFL-first loss to Gold Coast in round four was the club's lowest point since the 2007 Grand Final, but it wouldn't get much better as the side managed just three wins for the season.

In a bid to dramatically improve the Power's playing list, Primus helped secure the services of Hawthorn premiership ruckman Brent Renouf, Collingwood midfielder John McCarthy and West Coast's Brad Ebert.

They drafted talented local Chad Wingard at pick No. 6 at the draft and, with concern at how under-resourced the Power were, Josh Carr, Tyson Edwards, Shaun Rehn and Brad Gotch were added to the coaching team at the end of 2011.

Although Primus remained confident in his playing group right up until the end and refused to say they let him down, there's no doubt their underperformance and inconsistency in 2012 contributed to Primus' downfall.

Hartlett and Boak are regarded as two of the club's best players, but they haven't developed into the elite midfielders it was hoped they would.

Pittard, Moore and Butcher have struggled with injury, and although all three have shown glimpses, none of them has become the force their first-round selections suggested they could be.

Brad Ebert and Matthew Broadbent have performed with reasonable consistency, but the same can't be said for the vast majority of the list.

Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.