Crown Resorts chief executive Steve McCann believes the wounded casino giant can play a part in Australia’s post-COVID-19 recovery by helping to revitalise Melbourne and Sydney, and has given his strongest indication yet that he does not favour hiving off Crown’s flagship casino in Melbourne from the broader group.

Mr McCann, who is chief executive of Crown and Crown Melbourne pending regulatory approvals, has spent the week meeting investors after Crown delivered a full-year loss on Monday.