After landing a lucrative new jumper sponsor the next task on St Kilda's to-do list is to name their new coach, with an announcement expected next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Saints hope to announce the coach by their best and fairest awards night next Wednesday, with Saints chief executive Matt Finnis saying the selection process is almost complete.
Interim coach Brett Ratten is the hot favourite to take on the permanent job, however, Finnis said there were still others in the mix.
"It's been a thorough process and it's reaching the closing stages, and we've been really impressed with the candidates who we've met," Finnis said on Wednesday.
"We said from the outset that we'd be looking to have the process complete by the middle of September to position ourselves going into the trade period.
"Our best and fairest awards are next week so it would be good to have a new senior coach in place to address our players and supporters."
Those fans are eagerly awaiting news on whether star midfielder Jack Steven will be with the Saints next year after reportedly seeking a trade to Geelong.
Finnis wasn't making any promises.
"Jack is now on annual leave but before he left he had a really positive exit interview," Finnis said.
"We just want to see a happy and healthy Jack and if we can have that in the red, white and black we would be very pleased."
Finnis did, however, confirm that Adelaide defender Alex Keath had completed a medical at the club.
"All Saints fans would expect that if we're going to improve we're going to put ourselves in as many conversations as we can and if players are looking to change teams or come to Melbourne then we're happy to have those conversations," he said.
Finnis was speaking at the club's announcement they had secured global food delivery company Deliveroo as one of the club's two co-principal partners, supporting both the Saints' men's and women's teams.
The terms of the agreement were confidential but will no doubt be a large boost to St Kilda's coffers.
"This is a premium brand that is coming in as a co-principal and takes pride of place on the front of our jumpers so that makes it a very strong partnership for our football club," Finnis said.
"It gives us so much strength with what we're trying to do commercially as an organisation - it allows us to invest in our football program to achieve the growth we so desperately seek."
Australian Associated Press
