Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the club and Clarko are happy to wait on a new deal

HAWTHORN and its four-time premiership-winning coach Alastair Clarkson are content to park talks about extending his tenure until the end of the season, according to Jeff Kennett.

HAWTHORN and its four-time premiership-winning coach Alastair Clarkson are content to park any talks about extending his tenure until the end of the season, according to president Jeff Kennett.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Melbourne, Kennett said both parties were happy to wait on a decision, with Clarkson already secure under contract until the end of 2019.

Kennett has indicated in recent months how pleased the club was to have Clarkson in the role as the club reshapes its list going forward, but he said there was no urgency on anyone’s part to make an immediate decision.

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“We have had no private conversations whatsoever,” Kennett said when asked if he and Clarkson had had any preliminary discussions.

Hawks president Jeff Kennett and Alastair Clarkson haven’t always seen eye to eye.

“At a board meeting ... we have agreed that we will wait until the end of the year, and won’t discuss it beforehand, then we will make a decision in the best interests of all parties.”

“That’s what we agreed on (with him). That’s the position. He is happy with that; we are happy with that. We are not going to worry about it until the end of the year, and then we will make an assessment.”

Clarkson said in February he was happy to wait on a decision until later in the year, saying he wanted to be sure he had the passion to lead Hawks — a team he has coached since 2005 — beyond the end of his current deal.