Brett Ratten will coach St Kilda for the reminder of the season following the departure of senior coach Alan Richardson.
The Saints accepted Richardson’s resignation following mounting speculation over his future at Moorabbin.
Since his appointment ahead of the 2014 season, the 54-year-old is the second-longest serving coach in the club’s history, winning 43 of 126 games in charge.
SEN's Time On host Sam McClure believes it will be a two-horse race for the now vacant St Kilda position.
“Brett Ratten will coach the rest of the year and will now see that as a mini job interview,” McClure told SEN’s Whateley.
“I think it will be him or Brad Scott.
“The actual playing group themselves have been rapt with Brett Ratten and Brendon Lade and what they’ve been able to bring.”
St Kilda president Andrew Bassat dismissed the notion that a replacement for Richardson had been “pre-determined”.
“I thank Brett for accepting the role, and I know he and the other experienced members of our coaching team are determined to finish off the year in a manner befitting the commitment of our supporters,” Bassat said in a statement.
“I also want to address the rigorous process we will now begin to find the next coach of the St Kilda Football Club.
“Speculation the club has a pre-determined position on potential candidates should be completely disregarded.
“I cannot overstate the value everyone at the football club places in strong governance, and any suggestion otherwise is simply unfounded.
“We will first put together a selection committee, which I will chair, to evaluate all possible options for the role.
“As our members would expect, we will be incredibly thorough and open-minded as we search for the right senior coach to lead us to a second premiership.”
Ratten’s first game in charge will be against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.