Melbourne's bid for an AFL-funded multi-million dollar restructure comes with the club still struggling to lure an experienced football boss and uncertainty lingering over the replacement for president Don McLardy.
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McLardy will accompany Demons' chief executive Peter Jackson to Friday's AFL Commission talks but is unlikely to remain at the helm of the club for much longer as the league, along with Jackson, moves to streamline the club's board.
While wealthy insurance boss Geoff Freeman remains a strong candidate to take over the club, the search continues beyond the existing club directors for new board members and a new president.
The Melbourne board, voted to power in 2008 under president Jim Stynes, was regarded by the AFL as outstanding but now remains a movable feast with several directors considering their positions.
Jackson's brief presentation will outline the club's plight, which is seen by the AFL as not terminal but desperately in need of a complete football restructure. The view is that Melbourne's list is being compared with that of Greater Western Sydney.
Jackson's bid for emergency AFL funding is not expected to receive an immediate response from the Commission, which has not yet been briefed regarding the extent of Melbourne's dysfunctional football operation which is regarded as overpaid and top heavy.
In a series of developments, it is understood:
■ Chris Connolly is not expected to return to the club in any role despite the suspended club official signing a new two-year deal while Cameron Schwab was still in charge.
■ Jeff Kennett's controversial push to take over as presidency has no chance of succeeding.
■ Mark Neeld is expected to be removed as coach before the end of the month.
■ At least three current directors are expected to depart the club before the end of the year.
■ Jackson's proposed restructure will see not only a pay-out to the coach but also several other football department bosses who are contracted beyond 2013.
■ The club's links with rogue sports scientist Stephen Dank are not expected to be part of the AFL's immediate agenda.
Melbourne, which has a bye this weekend and faces St Kilda in round 13, has been bleeding financially as a result of record losses and poor crowds and cannot currently afford to pay out coach Neeld the required $600,000 it would cost to honour his contract.
Connolly too would require a contractual pay-out and it remains uncertain whether senior football man Neil Craig will remain beyond 2013. His annual contract is worth at least $400,000.
Jackson's view has been that with four officials previously reporting to the CEO - Josh Mahoney, Tim Harrington, Craig and Todd Viney - an experienced football operations boss must be brought into the structure. That appointment remains an issue with the new chief executive still searching for an appropriate candidate.
Friday's commission presentation is also expected to underline the prevailing view that Melbourne's plight, while serious, remains fixable despite the team's lack of competitiveness and the expected multi-million dollar loss in 2013.
Friday's commission talks will also look at the proposed new AFL charter which will be put into place later this year. The league has received more than 11,000 responses from the public following a push for supporter feedback.
