North Melbourne has offered coach Brad Scott a contract extension until 2020

BRAD Scott has said all season he will remain at North as long as the club wants him. There is no doubt the club wants him, so what will the in-demand coach do?

Brad Scott ponders his next move during a quarter-time break.

NORTH Melbourne has offered coach Brad Scott a two-year contract extension as Gold Coast close in on a replacement for Rodney Eade.

Scott was a bookies favourite to win the Suns’ job, but the Kangaroos strongly believe he is the man to rebuild the club in the coming years.

The new offer - if he accepts - would see Scott contracted until the end of the 2020 season.

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Scott has previously said he would stay at Arden St if the club wanted him.

“I’m contracted for next year, so it’s a simple equation that if North really wants me to continue to coach next year then that’s where I’ll be ... I’ve been really clear on that,” Scott said two weeks ago.

“It is a bit perplexing at times to hear the speculation. I understand it, my focus is just making sure we do everything we can to win the next four games and continue to build that foundation.”

Brad Scott walks away after talking to his players during the game against Brisbane.

North Melbourne beat Brisbane on Saturday and avoided a wooden spoon that would have secured the club the first selection in November’s draft.

The Roos have made a massive $10 million-plus play for Richmond free agent Dustin Martin to join the club next year.

Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans has begun to meet with potential candidates for the senior coaching position but the official interview process will not begin until next week at the earliest.

Evans’ preference is to meet informally with any interested parties himself before narrowing the field of applicants to about six who will front the interview panel.

He expects to announce the panel later this week.

He confirmed on Monday he had already “had coffee” with some potential applicants but said it was up to the candidates if they wanted to be publicly linked to the job.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott was favourite to replace Rodney Eade at Gold Coast.

“I’ve started having a few of those preliminary discussions,’’ he said.

If there wasn’t a standout presentation from the first round of interviews or if the interview panel wanted further information, he envisaged capping a second round of interviews to two or three applicants.

Evans is set to talk to untried assistant coaches including John Barker (Carlton) and Stewart Dew (Sydney) but will also sound out contracted coaches Alastair Clarkson (Hawthorn) and Scott.

Evans said it was likely there would be no final decision until after the Grand Final.

He also declared the club had not received any advice from Gary Ablett about his intentions for next year.

While it is now considered a fait accompli that Ablett will again request a trade to Geelong, the three time Suns club champion has yet to confirm this with the Suns.

Gary Ablett isn’t expected to be at Gold Coast next season.

Evans said until Ablett asked the question all the club could do was treat him like any other contracted player.

However the dialogue around Ablett has changed.

Where throughout the year the line from the club was that Ablett was contracted and his only options were to play on with the Suns or retire, it is now around what another club would have to do for Gold Coast to entertain a trade.

Gold Coast say the heavily front-ended nature of Ablett’s deal means they have effectively paid him about $500,000 in advance for next season.

Geelong, or any other club wishing to lure him out of Metricon Stadium would have to trade for an established player and pay their wage to satisfy the Suns.